after drawing bloud and cutting a veine more commeth in the place and after a great Feaver and decay of strength in a recovery Nature repaireth it selfe more copiously And often in our sad troubles wee have that complaint of God which he rebuketh his people for Esayâ—0 â—0 27 Why sayest thou O Jaakob and speakest O Israel my way is hid from the Lord and my judgement is passed over from God that is the Lord takes no notice of my affliction and hee forgets to right me as if I were hid out of his sight and David Psal. 31.22 I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes It s not unlike a word which Cain spake with a farre other mind Gen. 4.14 From thy face shall I be hid But this is 1. To judge God to be faint and weake as if hee could doe no more but were expiâ—ing Esay 40. vers 28. He will bee both weake and wearied if he forget his owne and our darkenesse cannot rob the Lord of light and infinite knowledge he cannot forget his office as Redeemer God is not like the Storke that leaves her egges in the Sand and forgets that they may be crushed and broken When Christ goes away hee leaves his heart and love behind in the soule till hee returne againe himselfe if the young creation be in the soule he must come backe to his nest to warme with his wings the young tender birth Asser. 16. Nor is Christ so farre departed at any time but you may know the soule he hath been in yea hee stands at the side of the sicke bed weeping for his pained childe yea your groanes pierceth his bowels Jer. 31.20 For since I spoke against him saith the Lord I doe earnestly remember him it s not the lesse true that the head of a swoning sonne lyeth in the bosome and the two armes of Christ that the weake man beleeveth that he is utterly gone away Asser. 17. Nor will Christ more reckon in a Legall way for the slips mis-judgings and love-rovings of a spirituall distemper then a Father can whip his childe with a rod because he mis-knoweth his Father and uttereth words of folly in the height of a feavor Christ must pardon the fancie and sinnes of sicke love the errors of the love of Christ are almost innocent crimes though unbeliefe make love-lyes of Jesus Christ. There be some over-lovings as it were that foames out rash and hasty jealousies of Christ when acts of fiery and flaming desires doe out-runne acts of faith as hunger hath no reason so the inundations and swellings of the love of Christ flow over their banks that we so strongly desire the Lord to returne that we beleeve he will never returne Asser. 18. Though hid Jewels be no Jewels a losed Christ no Christ to sense yet is their an unvisible and an undiscerned instinct of heaven that hindered the soule to give Christ over Shall we upon all this extend all these Spirituall considerations to all men whether they bee in Christ or not Some teach us this as the great Gospel-secret concerning Faith That none ought to question whether they beleeve God to be their Father Christ their Redeemer or no but are to beleeve till they bee perswaded that they doe beleeve and feele more and more of the truth of their faith or beliefe righteousnesse being revealed from faith to faith The 1. ground of this is Christs command to beleeve now commands of this nature are to be obeyed not disputed But this is so farre from being a Gospel-secret that it is not a Gospel truth and sends poore soules to seeke honey in a nest of Waspes the path-way to presumption For though these who truly beleeve ought not to doubt of their beliefe yet these who have lamps of faith and no oyle ought to question whether there be oyle in their lamps or no and true faith with their profession else the foolish Virgines were not farre out who never questioned their faith till it was out of time to buy oyle and that these Virgines should beleeve they had oyle in their lamps when they had none till they should bee perswaded that empty lamps were full lamps and a bastard faith true faith were to oblige them to feed upon the East-winde till there should be a faith produced in the imagination that the East is the West 2. All the Scriptures that charge us to trie our selves 1 Cor. 11. â—8 To examine our selves whether we be in the faith and to know our selves that Jesus Christ is in us except we be reprobats 2 Cor. 13.5 and to know the things that are freely given us of God 1 Cor. 2.12 and so to know our faith Phil. 1.29 doe evince that wee are to trie and so farre to question whether we beleeve or not as multitudes are obliged to acknowledge their faith is but fancy and that there is a thing like faith which is nothing such and that we are not to deceive our selves with a vaine presumption which looketh like faith and is no faith And James 2. many who beleeve there is a God and imagine they have faith being voide of good works and of love in which the life and efficacie of faith is much seene have no more faith then Devils have Vers. 18 â—9 20. â— It is true that we are to beleeve on the name of his Sonne Jesus Christ without any disputing concerning the equity of the command of beleeving or of our obligation to beleeve For both are most just And to dispute thâ— holy and just will of God is to oppose our carnall reason to the wisdome of God but we are noâ— because wee cannot dispute the holy command of God nor to reason our duty not to examine whether that which wee conceive wee doe as a dutie be a bastard and false conception or a true and genuine dutie nor because I may not reason the precept of beleeving given by Jesus Christ am I therefore to beleeve in any order that I please and to come to Christ whether I bee weary and laden with sinne or not weary and laden Christ commandeth mee to beleeve Ergo remaining in my wickednesse regarding iniquity in my heart without despairing of salvation in my selfe I am to beleeve I shall deny this câ—nsâ—quence It is all one as if Antinomians would argue thus All within the visiblâ— Church are obliged to beleeve and râ—st on Christ for salvation whether they be elect or reprobate whether their whoorish heart be broken with the sense of sinne or whole Ergo they are obliged to presume or to rest on Christ their righteousnesse whether they distrust their owne or not Object 2. Wee find not any in the whole course of Christ's preaching or the Discioles that asked the question whether they beleeved or not or whether their faith were true faith or no. It were a disparagement to the Lord of the feast to aske whether his dainties were reall or delusions The
within the trunk or body of the true to feel see and taste the sap of life from whence the fruit cometh Yea the contrary consequence is true because I smell sincerity love single intentions to please God in my works of sanctification therefore I know they came from Faith so the Holy Ghost should delude us when hee saith Wee know wee know or beleeve in Christ because we keepe his commandements Ergo We cannot know this except it bee evident that our keeping of his Commandement come from faith and the knowledge of God Object 6. Such a Faith as a Practicall Syllogisme can make is not a faith wrought by the Lords almighty power for the conclusion followeth but from the strength of reasonings not from the power of God by which alone divine things are wrought Ephes. 1.19 20. Col. 2.20 But faith wrought by a word and a worke and the light of a renewed conscience without the testimony of the Spirit is such a faith as a practicall Syllogisme can make Ergo such a faith so wrought is not wrought by the Lords almighty power The Minor is proved because all the three the Word the Worke and the light of Conscience are all created blessings and gifts and therefore cannot produce of themselves a word of almighty power and the word of it selfe is a dead letter the worke is lesse for faith commeth by hearing a word not by a worke Answ. When Master Cornwell saith By the power of God alone Divine things such as faith that layeth hold on Christs righteousnesse are wrought Ephes. 1.19 Col. 2.20 hee excludeth the ministery of the Gospel and all the promises thereof for they are created things and so they have no hand nor influence in begetting faith Antinomians will have us beleeve that Paul Ephes. 1.19.20 Col. 1.20 thinkes no ministery of the Word nor any hearing of the preached Word begetteth faith contrary to Rom. 1.16 Rom. 10.17 but by the onely immediate power of the Spirit we are converted without the Word Nor is here that which is in question concluded never Protestant Divine taught that without the actuall influence of omnipotent Grace can faith or spirituall sense that we are justified be produced by the Word worke or created light alone nor can the corne grow alone by power in the earth clouds or raine nor any Creature move without the actuall influence of the omnipotent Lord in whom we move therefore by this reason we could not know that the Sunne shall rise by the rising of the morning starre nor can we have any supernaturall sense by our holy walking contrary to Scripture 1 John 2.3 1 John 3.14 But we know by this all faith is ascribed by Antinomians to the immediate testimonie and Enthusiasticall inspiration of the Spirit as for the searching of Scripture say they it s not a sure way of searching and finding Christ it s but a dead letter and holds forth a covenant of works in this letter and therefore with the old Anabaptist they 'll have no teaching by Scripture but onely teaching by the Spirit We hold that conditionall promises are made to duties of Sanctification therefore we may have comfort and assurance from them in our drooping condition Cornewell answereth Pap. 23.24 25. The promises are not made to us as qualified with such duties of sanctification for then they should belong to us of debt not out of Grace Rom. 4.4 But in respect of our Vnion with Christ in whom they are tendered to us and fulfilled to us Satisfaction is made to the thirstie not for any right his thirst might give him in the promise but becausâ— it directeth to Christ who fulfilleth the condition and satisfieth the soule and the soule must first have come to Christ and gotten his first assurance from faith in Christ not from these conditions and duties Answ. 1. This is a yeelding of the cause We say there bee promises of the water made to thirsty soules not as if the right jus law merit debt that we have to them belonged to us for the deede done but for Jesus Christ onely 2. Not as if wee upon our strength and the sweating of free-will did conquer both the condition and reward 3. But yet wee have comfort and assurance when we by grace performe the duty that our faithfull Lord who cannot lye will fulfill his owne promise 4. He knoweth nothing of the Gospel who thinketh not God by his promise commeth under a sweet debt of free-grace to fulfill his owne promise and that this debt and grace are consistent But Antinomians breath smell of flâ—shly liberty for they tell us Conditionall promises are Legall contrary to the Gospel Rom. 10.9 John 3.16 Joh. 5.25 That that it s not safe to close with Christ in a conditionall promise if any thing be concluded from water and bloud it s rather damnation then salvation That its a sandy foundation to prove that Christ is mine from a gracious worke done in me by Jesus Christ were it even Faith For we are compleatly united to Christ without faith wrought by the Spirit It s incompatible with the Covenant of Grace to joyne faith with it To be justified by faith is to bee justified by workes That to say there must be faith on mans part to receive the Covenant is to undermine Christ. Neither Cornwell nor Saltmarsh oppose these blasphemies but extoll the Patrones of them in New-England Father save me from this houre Father is a word of Faith But had Christ need of Faith Answ. Not of faith of confiding in him that justifieth the sinner except he had faith of the justifying of his cause in Gods acquitting him of suretieship when he had payed all but hee had faith of dependencie on God in his trouble that God would deliver him and he was heard in that which he feared And Q. 2. how could there be a faith of dependencie in Christ for hee was the same independent God with the Father Answ. There were two relations in Christ one as Viator going toward glory and leading many children with him to glory another as comprehensor seeing and enjoying God 2. There were two sights in Christ one of Vision another of Vnion the sight of Vnion of two natures is the cause of the sight of vision Christ being on his journey travelling toward glory did with a faith of dependency rest on God as his Father seeing and knowing that the Union could not be dissolved but as a Comprehensor and one at the end of the race injoying God in habit there was no necessitie that Christ should alwaies Et in omni differentiâ temporis actually see and enjoy God in an immediate vision of glory For 1. this implyeth no contradiction to the personall union even as the seeing of God habitually which is the most joyfull sight intelligible and by necessitie of nature does produce joy and gladnesse may and did consist in
their own sparks Answ. If to bid men abstaine from flagitious sinnes and from seeking glory of men that are both neck-breakes of faith Joh. 5.44 and bring men under eternall displeasure both before and after we beleeve be to walk in the light of our own Sparks then when the Lord forbids these in his Law and commandeth both the beleever and unbeleever the contrary vertues he must counsell the same with us To beleeve and not be humbled and despaire of salvation in your selfe is to presume he that beleeveth right is cast on that broaken board like a ship-broken man either must I cast my self on the Rock Christ or then drown eternally and perish The unjust Steward was at what shall I doe ere he came to a wise resolution to goe the road way that Christ leades all beleevers is not to walke in the light of our own sparks It s one thing to seeke qualifications of our selves trusting in them and another thing to seek qualifications in our selves as preparatory duties wrought by Christs grace the former we disclaime not the latter Object 7. I will relate mine own experience First when I was minded to make away my selfe for my sinne the Lord sent into my minde this word I have loved thee with an everlasting love Ah thought I then hath God loved me with such an everlasting love and shall I sin against such a God 2. Many doubts and feares arose from the examination of my self I was afraid of being deluded 3. The Promise Esai 55.1 did sweetly stay my heart Christ in his ordinances witnessed to me that he was mine 4. I went on for some time full of joy 5. I was in feares againe that I could not pray but I had a promise I will fulfill the desires of them that feare me c. Answ. The method of the conversion of a deluded Antinomian is no rule to others 2. Nor doe I thinke that Gâ—d keeps one way with all especially when this mâ—â—s â—â—st stâ—p is from nature and thoughts of selfe-murther up to the Lambs booke of life the secret of eternall election in the bâ—â—ast of God I have loved thee with an eternal love How knew the Author this to bee Gods voice from a qualification in his soule It kept him from selfe-murther Yee see qualifications in our selfe which the Author saith is the way of Legall Preachers are required in any that beleeve 2. It is utterly false that the Gospel-faith commanded to all the Elect and Reprobate is the apprehention of Gods eternall love to me in particular the Scripture saith no such thing Experience contrary to Scripture can be no leading rule So the Antinomian way of conversion is that every soule-troubled for sinne Elect or Reprobate is immediatly without any foregoing preparations or humiliation or worke of the law to beleeve that God loved him with an everlasting love A manifest lie for so Reprobats are to beleeve a ly as the first Gospel-truth This is I confesse a honey-way and so Evangelike that all the damned are to beleeve that God did beare to them the same everlasting good will and love he had in heart toward Jacob. 2. All Reprobates may abstaine from selfe-murther out of this principle of the Lords everlasting love of election revealed immediately at first without any previous signes or qualifications going before 3. The Gospel wee teach saith eternall election is that secret in the heart of the Lambe called his booke so as really God first loves and chooses the sinner to salvation and we are blacked with hell lying amongst the pots till Christ take us up and wash and lick the Leopard Spots off us but to our sense and apprehension wee first love and choose him as our onely liking and then by our faith and his love on us we know he hath first loved us with an everlasting love but there be many turnings windings ups and and downes ere it come to this I have not heard of such an experience that at the first without any more adoe forthwith the Lord saith Come up hither I will cause thee read thy name in the Lambs booke of life The same Author saith Election is the secret of God and belongeth to the Lord. Pag. 104. and shall the beleeving of the love of election to glory bee the first Medicine that you give to all troubled consciences Elect and Reprobate This is to quench the fire by casting in oyle but if Antinomians take two wayes one with the unconverted Elect troubled in conscience another with unconverted Reprobats so troubled we should bee glad to heare these two new wayes 4. In the second place he is so well acquainted with the way of the Spirit as if through the casement of the Cabinet-counsell of God he had seene and reckoned on his fingers all the steps of the staires he saith He had many doubts and feares to be deluded that is hee doubted if his faith was true and saving for this is all the delusion to be feared upon self-examination So Pag. 24. c. 2. But you may read his words chap. 5. pag. 93. I find not any saith the same Author in the whole course of Christs preaching or the Disciples when they preached to them to beleeve asking the question whether they beleeved or no. then it is like this experience finds no warrant or precedent in the Saints to whom Christ and the Apostles preached 5. The sweet witnessing of the Spirit from Esai 55.1 Ho every one that thirsts come to the waters is Gospel-honey but consider if there were no law-worke preparing no needle making a hole before Christ should sew together the sides of the wound It s but a delusion 1. Because Esai 61.1 no whole-hearted sinners meet with Christ none come at first laughing to Christ all that come to Jesus for helpe come with the teare in their eye 2. To come dry and withered to the waters Esai 55.1 is the required preparation 3. The gold in a beggars purse in great abundance is to be suspected for stollen gold because he laboured not for it This I say not because preparations and sweatings and running that goe before conversion are merits or such as deserve conversion or that conversion is due to them Antinomians impute this to us but unjustly I humbly conceive it not to be the doctrine of Luther Calvine or Protestants which Libertines charge us with that I may cleare us in this let these propositions speake for us Propos. 1. We cannot receive the Spirit by the preaching of the Law and covenant of Works but by the hearing of the promises of the Gospel Gal. 3. The Law its alone can chase men from Christ but never make a new creature nor can the letter of the Gospel without the Spirit doe it Propos. 2. when we looke for any thing in our selves or thinke that an unrenewed man is a confiding person to purchase Christ we bewilder our selves and vanish in foolishnesse This wrong
the other The Antecedent is thus proved because God simply and absolutly may chuse to glory Moses Peter or not chuse them to glory and here is liberty of contradiction and freedome in the highest degree but having once chosen Moses and Peter to glory if they beleeve the Lord cannot but justifie them and crown them with glory because his promise and decree doth remove this liberty of contradiction so as God cannot choose but justifie and glorifie these that beleeve both in regard of his immutable nature who cannot repeale what he hath once decreed and of his fidelity in that he cannot but stand to his owne word and promise in justifying and saving the ungodly that beleeve Againe in election to glory there is nothing of men but all is pure free grace no condition no merit no faith no workes required in the party chosen to glory but in the justified there is more of man ere hee can be justified and saved he must heare consider be humbled know the need hee hath of a Saviour and beleeve and without these he cannot be justified Answ. 1. I deny that Libertie of contradiction belongeth to the essence and nature of libertie It s enough to make libertie that 1. It proceeds not from a principle determined by nature to one kind of action so the Sunne is not free to give light 2. That the principle be free of all forraigne force the malefactor goeth not freely to the place of execution when hailed to it 3. That it proceed from deliberation reason election and wisdome seeing no essentiall connexion or necessary or naturall relation between the action and the end thereof of themselves but such as may bee dispensed with if these three be though there be a necessity in some respect from a free decree and a free promise though there bee not liberty of contradiction simply to doe or not to doe yet is not any degree of the essence of libertie removed I well remember Dr. Jackson denying all decrees in God that setteth the Almighty to one side of the contradiction resembleth God to the Pope whose wisdome he commendeth in that the Popes decrees grants lawes promises are fast and loose and all made with a reserve of after-wit so as if the morrowes illumination be better then the dayes whiles his life breatheth in and out he may change and retract his will so saith he Papa nunquam sibi ligat manus the Pope tyes all the world to himselfe by oathes lawes promises but that lawlesse beast is tyed to none Now the Scripture teacheth us that the decrees and counsels of God are surer then mountaines of brasse and unchangeable and that his promise cannot faile But who dare say when he executes his decrees and fulfilleth his promise that he forfeiteth or loseth one inch degree or part of his essentiall libertie God should then bee lesse free to create the world then if we suppose he had never decreed to create it and yet doth create it as if the Lords free decree lavished away and should drinke up and waste any part of his naturall freedome in his actions or as if his faithfulnesse to make good what he promised should render him lame and dismember him of the fulnesse and freedome of his grace and so the more faithfull and true the lesse gracious and the more unchangeable in his counsels the more fettered and chained and the lesse free in all these actions that he doth according to the counsell of his will A grosse mis-conception and I deny that God is lesse free in the justifying and crowning the beleever then in electing and chusing him both to glory and to faith It may bee mens decrees and promises that are rash and may be at the second or third edition like their books corrected by a new-borne wit or because they ayme at under-board-dealing diminsh of their liberty but it s not so in the Almighty When the Lord by a promise to men maketh himselfe debter to his creature and that of free-grace with one and the same infinite freedome of grace hee contracteth the debt and payeth the summe for so the freedome of infinite grace should ebbe and slow as the Seas and ascend and descend as the Sunne which I cannot conceive the effects of free grace I grant being created and finite things in men are more or lesse according to the free dispensation of God Answ. 2. It s no marvell that there bee more of men in justification and glorification that are transient acts passing out of the creature then in election to glory that is an immanent and eternall act and so I grant Justification to be more conditionate then Election but if more gracious that is the question for the condition of Grace is a thing of free grace indeed we argue against the Arminian election that hangeth upon a condition of Free-wils carving such as their faith is and their perseverance and from thence we conclude from such a condition their election to glory cannot bee of free grace but in him that willeth and runneth because mans will determining Gods will to chuse this man to glory not this man is a running will and a mad and a proud will that will sit above Grace Pos. 4. Though it be true that Grace is essentially in God and in us by participation yet is it false that grace is not properly in us but that Faith Hope Repentance and the like that are in us are gifts not graces For grace in us may be called a gift in that it is freely given us as a fruit of the grace and favour of election and free redemption which indeed is the onely saving fountaine-grace of God but if grace be taken for a saving qualification and a supernaturall act worke or qualitie given freely of the Father through Christ upon Gods gracious intention to cause us freely beleeve repent love Christ rejoyce in the hope of glory worke out our salvation in feare and trembling so Grace is not onely in Christ but in us properly though Antinomians hold all saving grace to bee properly in Christ and that there is nothing inherent in a beleever that differenceth him from hypocrites all the difference must be in Christ say they 1. The word saith there was another Spirit in Caleb and Joshua then was in the rest of the Spies Ergo there was some distinguishing saving grace in them 2 Joh. 1.16 And of his fulnesse we have all received and grace for grace When he ascended to heaven he sent down the holy Ghost Joh. 14.17 Hee dwelleth in you and shall abide in you Joh. 16.13 He will guid you in all truth he will shew you things to come So there is a Spirit of grace powred on the Family of David Zach. 12.10 On the thirstie ground Esai 44.3 A new heart put in the midst of the covenanted people Ezech. 36.26 Feare of God put in their hearts Jer. 32.40 Jer. 31.33 1 Joh. 3.9 3. There is Grace in
a Sermon free love that the man spake such an excellent word free love that I was not sleeping when it was spoken free love that the Holy Ghost drove that word into the soule as a nayle fastened by the Master of the assembly it was free mercy so that there 's a meeting of shining favours of God in obtaining mercy and this would be observed Asser. 2. There be two ordinary wayes of God in drawing sinners one Morall by words another Physicall and reall by strong hand Which may be cleared thus Fancie led with some gilding of apparent or seeming good as hope of food doth allure and draw the bird to the grin and sometime pleasure as a glasse and the singing of the Fowler So is fish drawne to nibble at the angle and lines cast out hoping to get food Now this is like Morall drawing in men and all this is but objective working on the fancy But when the foot and wing of the bird is entangled with the net and the fish hath swallowed down the bait and an instrument of death under it now the Fowler draweth the bird and the Fisher the fish a farre other way even by reall violence The Physician makes the sick child thirsty then allures him to drink physick under the notion of drink to quench his thirst this is morall drawing of the child by wiles But when the child hath drunk the drink works not by wiles or morally but naturally without freedome and whether the child will or no it purgeth head and stomack That there is a Morall working by the word in the drawing of sinners to Christ though most evident yet must be proved against Antinomians and Enthusiasts who write That the whole letter of the Scripture holds forth a covenant of works And The due search and knowledge of the holy Scripture is not a safe and sure way of searching and finding Christ. And There is a testimony of the Spirit and voyce unto the soule meerly immediate without any respect unto or concurrence with the word And Such a faith as is wrought by a practicall Syllogisme or the word of God is but an humane faith because the conclusion followeth but from the strength of reasonings or reason not from the power of God by which alone divine things are wrought Ephes. 1.19 20. Col. 2.20 and that because such a faith wrought by the word the works of sanctification in the regenerate and light of a renewed conscience are all done by things that are created blessings and gifts and these cannot produce that which is onely produced by an Almighty power For the word of it selfe without the Spirit yet the word is more then works of sanctification is but a dead letter but that God works faith by the word his owne Spirit concurring is cleare 1. The Prophets alledge this for their warrant Thus saith the Lord. Ergo You must beleeve it And one more and greater then all the Prophets But I say so Christ God equall with the Father speaketh 2. Rom. 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Verse 14. How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard It s true the word the works of God are not the principall object of faith nor objectum quod faith rests onely on God and the Lord Jesus Joh. 14.1 1 Thes. 1.8 Your faith toward God 1 Pet. 1.21 Deut. 1.32 Joh. 3.12 Gen. 15.6 Dan. 6.23 Rom. 4.3 Gal. 2.16 2 Tim. 1.12 The word promises and Prophets and Apostles are all creatures and but media fidei the meanes of saving faith they are objectum quo Joh. 5.46 Psal. 106.12 Exod. 4.8 Psal. 78.7 of themselves they are dead letters and dead things and cannot without the Spirit produce faith Yea all habits of grace of faith of love in us are like the streames of a fountaine that would dry up of themselves if the spring did not with a sort of eternity furnish them new supply so would habits of grace being but created things wither in us if they were not supplied from the Fountaine Christ. And all beings created in comparison of the first Being are nothing and all nations to him are lesse then nothing and vanity Isai. 40.17 and so are the infused habits of grace nothing If this were the meaning of Familists and Antinomians who say that there is in us no inherent grace but that grace is onely in Christ we should not contend with them Wee teach no such thing as that Reasonings Syllogismes or the Scriptures without the Spirit can produce Faith yet is it vaine arguing to say raine and dew the Summer-Sunne good soyle cannot bring forth roses floures vines cornes because sure it is a worke of Omnipotencie that produceth all these and so its vaine to say that because Faith is the worke of the omnipotencie of Grace therefore Faith commeth not by hearing and reasoning from Scripture the contrary whereof is evident in Christs proving of the resurrection by consequence from Scripture Mat. 22.31 32. Luk. 20.37 â—8 Nor can any say Christ may make discourses from Scripture and his reasonings because he is the King of the Church are valid and may produce faith but we cannot doe the like nor are our reasonings Scriptures for Christ râ—buketh the Saduces Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures c. because they beleeved not the consequences of Scripture as Scripture and made not the like discourse for the building of themselves in the faith 3. The searching of the Scriptures is life eternall the onely way to find Christ. Joh. 5.39 Acts 10.43 Rom. 3.21 Esai 8.20 4. Gen. 9.27 God shall perswade Japhet by the Scriptures preached and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem Acts 16.14 Gods opening of the heart and Lydia's hearing and attending to the word that Paul spoke goe together 5. The way of Enthusiasts in rejecting both Law and Gospel and all the written word of God is because there is no light in them Some immediate sense of God and working of the holy Ghost on the soule of the child of God witnessing to me in particular that I am the child of God I deny not and that my name expressely is not in Scripture is as true but this testimony excludeth not the Scripture as if the searching thereof were no safe way of finding Christ as they blasphemously say 1. Because this Enthusiasme excludeth the onely revealed rule by which we trie the Spirits and we are forbidden to presume above that which is written 1 Cor. 4.16 and Enthusiasts have acted murthers and much wickednesse under this notion of inspirations of the Spirit 2. Because if the matter of that which is revealed be not according to the written Word Now after the Scriptrue is signed by Christs owne hand Revel 22.18 I see not what we are to beleeve of these inspirations What extraordinary impulsions and propheticall instincts have been in holy men and such as God hath raised to reforme his
particle If hee had said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Gal. 5.4 1 Cor. 11.27 There had been some colour for this but I deny that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all must bee restrictive here more then 2 Thess. 2.11.12 God gave them over to the efficacie of error to beleeve a lie that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that all those might bee damned that beleeve not the truth but have pleasure in unrighteousnesse It follows not that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here that all or who ever beleeve not the truth should bee fewer in number then those that are given over to the efficacie of error yea the number of the one and the other is equall so Ioh. 5.22 Th◠Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Sonne vers 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that all men should honour the Sonne as they honour the Father who sent him I see no ground to say that some may honour the Father and bee raised from the dead and quickened as ver 21. who doe not honour the Sonne And therefore it ought not to bee translated God so loved the world c. That whosoever beleeves should not perish but farre more agreeably to the originall God so loved the world that every one beleeving should not perish as in multitude of places it is translated unusquisque non quicunque and therefore faith is not set downe here so much ad modum conditionis as ad modum medi◠as a condition as a meanes to bring this loved world to glory as if yee would say hee so loveth letters as all learned are dear to him so God so loved his chosen world that he gave his Sonne to die for them now this love is eternall that all these beleeving in their own time might never bee lost but have eternall life Nor can Arminians take the world world for all and every one of mankinde for they exclude all infants dying so as uncapable of faith and they say these words containe Gods speciall decree of election and reprobation to wit Ioh. 3.16 God decreed to save all that beleeve and God decreed all that beleeve not should perish Now from Election and Reprobation they exclude all the Heathen and all their infants and all infants whatsoever and such as never heard the Gospel so I feare they make as narrow a world here as wee doe let them see to it Whereas Arminians say that the word world never signifieth in Scripture the elect onely what then Let mee answer 1. Their world of elect and reprobate excluding the best part of mankinde all infants all that never heard the Gospel sure is not in the Scripture nor speaks it of such a world 2. This is a begging of the question for Ioh. 1.29 The world whose sins the Lambe of God takes away the Reconciled world to whom the Lord imputes no sinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it s the same word that is ascribed to Abrahams beleeving Rom. 4.3 vers 4.5 And that David speakes of Psal. 32.2 Rom. 4.6 The imputing of righteousnesse and of Faith to righteousnesse that in which blessednesse coming through Christ consisteth Rom. 4.8 9 10 11. This world is the onely beleeving elect world the loved world Joh. 3.16 the world saved vers 17. the world of which Christ is Saviour Ioh. 4.42 the world that Christ giveth his life unto Ioh. 6.33 and for whose life he giveth his life v. 55. the world of which Abraham but much more Christ is heire Rom. 4.13 The reconciled world occasioned by the Iews falling off Christ Rom. 11.15 all these are the elect beleeving and Redeemed world this they can never disprove The other ground of our answer to all the places on the contrary is that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ died for all doth never signifie all and every one of mankinde by neither Scripture nor the doctrine of adversaries But is as all Divines say to be expounded according to the subject in hand secundum materiam substratam Hence our 1. Rule All often signifieth the most part Marke 1.64 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they all condemned him to bee guilty of death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the whole counsell Matth. 26.59 yet Joseph of Arimathea consented not to his death Luke 23.51 and the flood destroyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them all Luke 17.27 yet eight persons were saved so all Judah Jer. 13.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was carried into captivity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is often the same with many all the sheep of Kedar shall be gathered to thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is many and Gen. 41. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all the land came to Egypt when the matter beares a clear exception and other Scriptures expound it then sure Christs dying for all must bee expounded for his giving himselfe a ransome for many Matth. 20.28 compared with 1. Tim. 2.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is here and there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So the Law saith all doe that which the most part doe mens will doth not limit what God speaks but let the text it selfe be diligently considered Exod. 9.6 All the castle of Egypt died that was in the field Christ gave himselfe a ransome for all capable of a ransome Arminians say that the finally obdured those that sinne against the Holy Ghost and infants of Heathen or any dying infants cannot bee ransomed by Christ Exod. 32.26 All the sonnes of Levi came to Moses not all without exception Many adhered to Aaron in his idolatry v. 29. Deut. 33.9 so Matt. 3.5 Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the countrey near to Jordan Now this signification being applyed to our use Christ giving himselfe a ransome for all men his dying for all can bee no larger then the saving of all the beleeving of all flesh and the blessing of all nations in Christ but Gen. 18.18 all in him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the nations of the earth shall be blessed Gen. 22.18 In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bee blessed the whole world that John saith Christ is a propitiation for 1 Joh. 2.1 cannot be larger then this now this cannot carry any tollerable sense that all and every man of the Nations are actually blessed in Christ more then all and every one are redeemed reconciled received in favour within the Covenant of Grace And therefore Arminians have as good reason from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all that are said to bee ransomed are all actually saved and hell shall bee empty and to no purpose as to contend for a universall Redemption As a wicked pamphlet printed of late faith all the Creation of God Men and Angels are redeemed and shall at length bee saved in Christ. Now we can undenyably prove that all and every Nation and all and
close the doore in the lowest roome so I see the throne and him that sits on it it is enough to me 2. Arg. All the tie of the covenant lyeth on God not any on man as bond or obligation for the fulfilling of the covenant or partaking of the benefits thereof Heb. 8.10 Ezech. 36.25.26 Jer. 1. the Lord promiseth to doe all and the new heart is but a consequent of the covenant where is thee in all this covenant one Word that God sayes to man Thou must do this If God had put man on these conditions then they were conditions indeed But when God takes all upon himself where are then the conditions on Mans part Give me leave suppose there should be a fault of performing in this covenant whose were the fault must not the fault or failing be in him who is tyed and bound to every thing in the covenant and saith he will do it If there bee a condition and there should be a failing in the condition he that undertaketh all things in the covenant must needs be in the fault God saith not make your selves cleane get you the Law of God in your mind get you power to walk in my Statutes and when you doe this then I will be your God and enter in Covenant with you Answ. 1. We never teach that the making to our selves a new heart is an antecedent condition required before the Lord can make the New-Covenant with us as this mâ—n would charge Protestant Divines but that it is a condition required in the party covenanting which is conditio federatorum nonfederis and such a condition without which its unpossible they can fulfill the other condition which is to believe and so lay hold on the Covenant but it is clear Antinomians think the new heart no inherent grace in us but that Christ is grace working immediately in us as in stones and the new heart is justification without us in Christ only let Crispe shew where the making of a new heart is commanded to us as a consequent and an effect of the Covenant surely the new heart the washing of us with cleane water be it an antecedent or be it a consequent of the Covenant of Grace it is a promise that God doth freely and of meere grace undertake to perform in us Ezech. 36.26 A new heart will I give you so Ier. 32.39 40. Ier. 31.33 Eâ—ech 11.19.20 Esa. 54.13 Ioh. 6.45 Ezech. 36.32 Not for your sakes doe I this saith the Lord God be it known unto you be ashamed and confounded for your own wayes O house of Israel ver 22. I doe not this for your sakes O house of Israel but for mine holy names sake which yee have prophaned amongst the heathen whether ye went and Crispe saith the Covenant in the old Testament had annexed to it divers conditions of legall washing and sacrifices whereas the New Covenant under the New Testament is every way of free grace He is farre wide conditions wrought in us by grace such as we assert take not one jot or title of the freedome of Grace away and though there be major gratia a larger measure of grace under the New Testament yet there is not magis gratia there is no more of the essence of free-grace in the one then in the other for all was free grace to them as to us why did the Lord enter in Covenant wâ—th the Iewes more then with other Nations Deut. 7.7 The Lord loved you because he loved you Was Ierusalem Ezech. 16. holier then the Ephesians Eph. 2. No their nativity was of the land of Canaan their Father an Amorite their Mother an Hittiâ—e Ezech. 16.5 Thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast borne ver 6. And when I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood I said to thee in thy blood live And to cause grace have a deeper impression and sinking down into the hearts bottome he repeateth it againe I said unto thee in thy blood live And will Crispe say that this iâ— not a history of free grace as farre from bribe or hire of meritâ— as in the world or will he say it was Gods meaning First wash you with holy water and sacrifice to me and performe all these legall conditions to me while you are Amorites and Hittites by kinde and that being done He enter in Covenant with you when yee have done your work He pay your wages and be your God 2. This Argument militateth strongly against every Gospel duty and the whole course of Sanctification God must so be the cause only cause of all our sinfull omissions sins under the Covenant of grace in that he promiseth to work in us to will and to do to give us grace to abstain froÌ„ sin but does not stand to his word as Antinomians teach which is an Argument unanswerable to me that its the minde of Antinomians that no justified person can sinne but that they omit good or commit ill God is in the fault not they and that the justified are meer blocks in all the course of their sanctification in all the sins they doe they are patients God should more carefully see to his own honour and not suffer them to sinne so they and the old Libertines goe on together For say that the new heart that to will and to doe to persevere stedfastly in the Grace of God were no conditions of the Covenant sure believing in the Lord Iesus is clearly a condition of the righteousnesse of faith as doing is of the righteousnesse which is of the Law Rom. 10.3 4 5 6 7 8. Gal. 4.22 23 24 25 26 27 28 say that to repent pray love God and serve him were not from God through the tye of the New-Covenant yet Gods promise his single word when he saith he will doe such and such things is as strong a tye as his Covenant and oath when he knoweth its unpossible these things that he saith he will doe can be done except he of his meer grace work them in us Now the Lord clearely promiseth that he will give repentance Act. 5.31 Sorrow for sinne the Spirit of grace and supplication Zach. 12.10 a circumcised heart to love and serve the Lord Deut. 30.6 Ezech. 36.26 perseverance in Grace Ier. 32.40 41. Esai 54.10 chap. 59.20.21 Psal. 1.3 Joh. 4.14 chap. 10.28 Phil. 1.6 Ephes. 5.26.27 1 Ioh. 2.1 Then let D. Crispe or any Libertine say when the Saints sinne in not praying in not sorrowing for sin in not willing and doing in their sinnes and falls in their Christian race to heaven let me speak in the words of Crisp whos fault is it or failing not to perform the word or promise of God God undertaketh by promise yea by his simple word to fulfill what he promiseth and saith he will work all these in us yea to will and to doe Ergo if it be not done the fault cannot
awed by the Law 576.577 Antinomians oblige not beleevers to personall walking with God 578 The Law leaveth not off to bee a rule of righteousnesse because it giveth not grace 579 Every naturall man under the Law 581.582 A Mystery of Antinomians that all meanes not effectually moving the will are not meanes laying bonds on the conscience 582.583 Antinomians take away all use of teaching and exhorting 584 Faith looseth us not from the Law ibid. Obeying of God because of the direction of Law and Gospel is to Antinomians a controuling of the free Spirit 589 The Law as the Law required perfect obedience but the Law as Evangelized requireth not perfect obedience that we may be justified 589 The Antinomian doctrine propounded by the carnall Libertine Rom. 7. 590.591 The Law is not meerely passive 591.592 How Faith and new obedience are the meanes of our delivery from the body of sin the former from the guilt and that perfectly and at once in justification and the other from the blot and in-dwelling of sinne and that by degrees in Sanctification 593.594 How we are saved without works 594.595 How God accounteth the good works of the justified porfect 595.596.597.598 CHRIST DYING AND Drawing Sinners to himselfe JOHN 12. 27. Now is my soule troubled and what shall I say Father save me from this houre But for this cause came I unto this houre 28. Father glorifie thy Name IT is a question whether these words of our Saviours Soule-trouble be nothing but the same words and prayer which Matthew chap. 26. and Luke 22. relate to wit O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me when his soule was troubled in the garden in his agonie Some think them the same others not It is like they are words of the same matter for first when Christ uttered these words hee was neare his sufferings and on the brink of that hideous and dark sea of his most extreme paine and drew up against hell and the Armies of darknesse as the story sheweth But that the Lord uttered these same words in the garden and not before is not apparent because upon this prayer it is said Then came there a voyce from heaven c. A voyce speaketh to him from heaven now Mat. 26. Luk. 22. no voyce is like to have come from heaven for when hee prayed in his agonie there were no people with him as here because of the voyce the people being present Some said it thundered others said an Angel spake from heaven there being now with Christ in the garden when hee prayed O my Father c. none save Peter James and John the three famous witnesses of his extreme suffering and of his young heaven of his transfiguration on the Mount when hee acted the Preludium and the image and representation of heaven before them as is cleare Mat. 26. vers 37. And he was removed from them also Mat. 26.39 Luk. 22.41 and they were sleeping in his agonie Mat. 26.40 43 45. But now there is a waking people with Christ who heard this voyce But I deny not but it is the same prayer in sense even as suppose it were revealed to a godly man that hee were to suffer an extreme violent and painfull death and withall some fearfull soule-desertion as an image of the second death it should much affright him to remember this and hee might pray that the Lord would either save him from that sad houre or then give him grace with faith and courage in the Lord to endure it so here Christ God and man knowing that hee was to beare the terrors of the first and second death doth act over afore-hand the time being neare the sorrow and anguish of heart that hee was to suffer in his extreme sufferings as it were good ere the crosse come to act it in our mind and take an essay and a lift of Christs crosse ere wee beare it to try how handsomely wee would set back and shoulders under the Lords crosse I doe not intend that wee are to imitate the Martyr who put his hand in the fire the night before hee suffered to try how hee could endure burning-quick but that wee are to lay the supposition what if iâ— so fall out as Christ being perswaded his suffering was to come acted sorrow trouble of soule and prayer before-hand and to resolve the saddest and antedate the crosse and say with our owne hearts Let the worst come or to suffer our feare to prophecy as Job did chap. 3. vers 25. yet suppose the hardest befall me I know what to doe as the unjust Steward resolveth on a way before-hand how to swimmâ— through his necessities Luk. 16.4 The Lord acteth judgement and what they shall pray in the time of their extremity who now spit at all praying and Religion they shall be religious in their kind when they shall cry Revel 6.16 Mountaines and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. You cannot beleeve that a Lambe shall chase the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and every bond-man and every free-man into the dennes and the rocks of the mountaines to hide themselves But the Lord acteth wrath and judgement before your eyes Men will not suppose the reall story of hell Say but with thy selfe Oh! shall I weep and gnaw my tongue for paine in a sea of fire and brimstone Doe but fore-fancie I pray you how you shall look on it what thoughts you will have what you shall doe when you shall 2 Thes. 1.9 be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 1. Fore-seen sorrowes have not so sad an impression on the spirit 2. Grace is a well-advised and resolute thing and has the eyes of providence to say in possible events What if my Scarlet embrace the Dunghill and Providence turne the Tables 3. It is like wisedome grace is wise to see afarre-off to fore-act faith and resolve to lie under Gods feet and intend humble yeelding to God as 2 Sam. 15.25 26. In the Complaint wee have 1. the Subject-matter of it The Lords troubled soule 2. The Time Now is my soulâ— troubled 3. Christs Anxiety wrought on him by this trouble What shall I say or which is the sense What shall I doe 4. And a shoare is seen at hand in the storme a present rock in the raging sea What shalt thou say Lord Jesus what shalt thou doe Pray and hee prayeth Father save me from this houre 5. There is a sort of correction or rather a limitation But for this cause came I to this houre The Lord forgetting his paine embraceth this evill houre 6. Going on in his resolution to embrace this sad houre hee prayeth vers 28. Father glorifie thy Name Touching the first the Soule-trouble of Christ wee are to consider 1. How it can consist with
upon Act of atonement and free redemption in Christ standeth uncancelled and firme being once received by faith the justified soule ought not so to be troubled for sin as to mis-judge the Lords by-past work of saving Grace 1. Because the beleever once justified is to beleeve remission of sins and a payed ransome If now hee should beleeve the Writs once signed were cancelled again hee were obliged to beleeve things contradictory 2. To beleeve that the Lord is changed and off and on in his free love and eternall purposes is a great slandering of the Almighty 3. The Church Psal. 77. acknowledgeth such mis-judging of God to be the soules infirmity Psal. 77.10 I said This is my infirmity Asser. 2. Yet de facto David a man according to Gods heart 1 Sam. 12.12 13. fell in an old feaver a fit of the disease of the Spirit of bondage Psal. 32.3 When I kept silence my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long V. 4. For day and night thy hand was heavie upon me my moisture is turned into the drought of summer So the Church in Asaph's words Psal. 77.2 My sore ran in the night and ceased not either his hand was bedewed with teares in the night as the Hebrew beareth or a boyl of unbeleefe broke upon me in the night and slacked not Vers. 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever will hee be mercifull no more Then faith and doubting both may as well be in the soule with the life of God as health and sicknesse in one body at sundry times and it is no argument at all of no spirituall assurance and of a soule under the Law or covenant of works to doubt as sicknesse argueth life no dead corpse is capable of sicknesse or blindnesse these are infirmities that neighbour with life so doubting with sorrow because the poore soul cannot in that exigence beleeve is of kin to the life of God the life of Jesus hath infirmities kindly to it as some diseases are hereditary to such a family 2. The habit or state of unbeleefe is one thing and doubtings and love-jealousies is another thing Our love to Christ is sickly crazie and full of jealousies and suspitions Temptations make false reports of Christ and wee easily beleeve them Jealousies argue love and the strongest of loves even marriage-love 3. By this all acts of unbeleefe in soules once justified and sanctified should be unpossible Why then the Lords Disciples had no faith when Christ said to them Why doubt yee O yee of little faith It happily may be answered that the Disciples Mat. 8. doubted not of their son-ship but of the Lords particular care in bringing them to shore in a great sea-storme To which I answer It s most true they then feared bodily not directly soule-ship-wrack but if it was sinfull doubting of Christs care of them Master carest thou not for us the point is concluded That doubting of Christs care and love may well inferre a soule is not utterly void of faith that is in a doubting condition 4. The morning dawning of light is light the first springing of the child in the belly is a motion of life the least warmings of Christs breathings is the heat of life When the pulse of Christ new framed in the soule moveth most weakly the new birth is not dead the very swonings of the love of Christ cannot be incident to a buried man 5. When Christ rebuketh little faith and doubting hee supposeth faith hee who is but a sinking and cryeth to Christ is not drowned as yet 6. The Disciples prayer Lord increase our faith Christs praying that the faith of the Saints when they are winnowed may not faile the exhortation to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might prove the Saints faith may be at a stand and may stagger and slide 7. The various condition of the Saints now it s full moon againe no moon light at all but a dark ecclipse evidenceth this truth The beleever hath flowings of strong acts of faith joy love supernaturall pâ—ssions of Grace arising to an high spring-tide above the banks and ordinary coasts and â—gain a low-ground ebbe The condition in ebbings and flowings in full manifestations and divine raptures of another world when the wind bloweth right from heaven and the breath of Jesus Christs mouth and of sad absence runneth through the Song of Solomon the book of the Psalmes the book of Job as threeds through a web of silke and veines that are the strings and spouts carrying bloud through all the body lesse or more Asser. 3. The justified soule once pardoned receiveth never the Spirit of bondage Rom. 8.15 to feare againe eternall wrath that is This Spirit in the intension of the habit such as was at the first conversion when there was not a graine of faith doth never returne nor is it consistent with the Spirit of Adoption Yet happily it may be a question if a convert brought in with much sweetnesse and quietnesse of Spirit shall fall in some hainous sinne like the adultery and murther of Dâ—vid have not greater vexation of Spirit then at his first conversion but more supernaturall But yet this must stand as a condemned error which Libertines doe hold That frequency or length of holy duties or trouble of Conscience for neglect thereof are all signes of one under a Covenant of Works And that which another of that way saith in a dangerous medicine for wounded soules Where there is no Law as there is none in or over the justified soule there is no transgression and where there is no transgression there is no trouble for sinne all trouble arising from the obligement of the Law which demandeth a satisfaction of the soule for the breach of it and such satisfaction as the soule knowes it cannot give and thereby remaines unquiet like a debtor that hath nothing to pay and the Law too being naturally in the soule as the Apostle saith The Conscience accusing or else excusing It is no marvell that such soules should be troubled for sinne and unpacified the Law having such a party and ingagement already within them which holding an agreement with the Law in Tables and Letters of stone must needs worke strongly upon the spirits of such as are but faintly and weakely inlightned and are not furnished with Gospel enough to answer the indictments the convictions the terrors the curses which the Law brings And a third And indeed Gods people saith he need more joyes after sinnes then after afflictions because they are more cast downe by them and therefore God useth sinnes as meanes by which he leades in his joyes into them in this world and alâ—o in the world to come their sinnes yeeld them great joyes Indeed in some respects they shall joy-most at the last day who have sinned least But in other respects they have most joy who have sinned most for sinne they little or much they all
mans doubting from signes inherent in the man and if hee be a back-slider in heart you fetch fire and water from beyond the Moone to cure him or you must fetch warrants to convince him from the mind eternall counsells of love and free grace within God and that is all the question between the poore man and you You cannot prove God hath loved him from everlasting because hee hath loved him from everlasting If Libertines in this Argument intend to prove that a chosen convert in Christ hath no ground to question that hee is not beloved of God and not in Christ 1. That is nothing to the Thesis of Antinomians maintained by all that sinners as sinners are to beleeve Gods eternall love in Christ to them and so all sinners elect or reprobate are to beleeve the same 2. It s nothing to the universall commandement that all and every one in the visible Church wearied and loaden with sin or not wearied and loaden are immediatly to come to Christ and rest on him as made of God to them their righteousnesse sanctification and redemption without any inherent qualification in them 3. It s nothing to the point of freeing all and building a golden bridge to deliver all who are oblieged to beleeve elect or reprobate from doubting whether they be in Christ or not that they may easily come to Christ and beleeve his eternall love and redemption in him though they be in the gall of bitternesse and bonds of iniquity and that immediatly Which golden Paradise to heaven and Christ Antinomians liberally promise to all sinners as sinners I cannot beleeve that it s so easie a step to Christ. For the second It 's a dreame that God loveth sinners with the same love every way wherewith hee loveth his owne Sonne Christ. And why Because God loveth us onely for his owne Sonne and for nothing in us Ergo Farre more it must follow it s a farre other an higher fountaine love wherewith the Father loveth his owne eternall and consubstantiall Sonne the Mediator betweene God and man and that derived love wherewith he loveth us sinners As the one is 1. Naturall the latter free 2. The love of the Father to the Sonne as his consubstantiall Son and so farre as it 's essentially included in his love to Jesus Christ Mediator is not a love founded on grace and free-mercy which might never have beene in God because essentially the Father must love his Sonne Christ as his Sonne and being Mediator he cannot for that renounce his naturall love to him which is the fundamentall cause why hee loveth us for Christ his Sonne as Mediator but the love wherewith the Father loveth us for his Sonne Christ is founded on free Grace and mercy and might possibly never have been in God For 1. as he could not but beget his Sonne he could not but love him nature not election can have place in either but it was his Free will to create a man or not create him 2. He cannot but love his Sonne Christ but God might either have loved neither man nor Angel so as to chuse them to Salvation and he might have chosen other Men and Angels then these whom he hath chosen God hath no such freedome in loving his owne Consubstantiall Sonne 2. It s an untruth that God loveth his chosen ones as he doth love his Sonne that is with the same degree of love wherewith he loves his Sonne I thinke that not farre from either grosse ignorance or blasphemie It possibly may bee the same love by proportion with which the Father tendereth the Mediatour or Redeemer and all his saved and ransomed ones but in regard of willing good to the creature loved he neither loveth his redeemed with the same love wherewith hee loveth his Sonne except blasphemously we say God hath as highly exalted all the redeemed and given to them a name above every name as he hath done to his owne Sonne nor doth he so love all his chosen ones as hee conferreth equall grace and glory upon all alike as if one starre differed not from anoâ—her starre in glory in the highest heavens Our owne good works cannot make our Lord love us lesse or more with the love of eternall election but they may make God love us more with the love of complâ—cency and a sweeter manifestation of God in the fruits and gracious effects of his love According to that John 14.23 Jesus said if a man love me he will keepe my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him The third reason is the same with the first and proveth nothing but a Major Poposition not denied by the disquieted sinner which is this Who ever is justified and chosen cannot be condemned whom ever the Lord once loveth to salvation he must alwaies love to salvation for his love is like himselfe and changeth not But the disquieted sinner is chosen and loved to salvation This Assumption is all the question and the truth of a Major Proposition can never prove the truth of the Assumption Saltmarsh Free Grace Chap. 4. Pag. 83.84 85. Because you feele not your selfe sanctified you feare you are not justified If you suppose that God takes in any part of your faith repentance new obedience or sanctification as a ground upon which he justifieth or forgiveth 1. you are cleare against the Word for if it be of Workes it is no more of Grace 2. It must then be the onely evidence you seeke for and you aske for sanctification to helpe your assurance of justification but take it in the Scriptures way 1. In the Scriptures Christ is revealed to be our sanctification Christ is made unto us righteousnesse sanctification I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Yee are Christs but yee are sanctified but yee are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus He hath quickned us together with Christ. Wee are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good workes Jesus Christ himself being the chiefe corner stone That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that new man which after God was created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Wee are members of his body of his flesh and his bones And being found in him not having mine own righteousnesse I can dâ—e all things through Christ which strengthneth me But Christ is all in all Your life is hid with Christ in God Heb. 13.20 21. All these set forth Christ as our sanctification the fulnesse of his the all in all Christ hath beleeved perfectly for us he hath sorrowed for sinne perfectly he hath obeyed perfectly he hath mortified sinne perfectly and all is ours and we are Christs and Christ is Gods 2. The second thing is Faith about our owne sanctification we must beleeve more truth of our owne graces then we can see or feele the Lord in his Dispensation hath so ordered that here our life should be hid with Christ in God that we should
mentis and so it concludeth not the Question 2. It s Antinomian doctrine to make opposition between the Gospel promise and the debt of the promise the debt of works Rom. 4. and Rom. 11. is Law-debt due to the worker as an hireling is worthy of his wages because hee hath done the work perfectly according to a covenant made with his Master In which case no man sayes the wages of the labourer is a free-gift But if whatever the Lord promise to us in the Gospel make God a debter and the thing promised to be debt then let Antinomians speak out for they say The whole letter of Scripture and so of the whole Gospel-promises hold forth a covenant of works contrary to Gal. 4. where there be two covenants one of works another of grace and contrary to the promises of grace in the Gospel Joh. 2.16 Heb. 8.10 11 12. Mat. 11.28 1 Tim. 1.15 2 All the promises of the Gospel must make salvation debt was not Christ promised in the Prophets to the lost world Rom. 1.2 The inheritance is not by Law but by promise Gal. 3.17 18. Rom. 9.8 9. Luk. 1.45 54 55 68 69 70. Is Christ come to save sinners by debt or by grace is salvation debt its promised Is not righteousnesse promised to him that beleeves Rom. 4.5 then righteousnesse must be debt and so not of grace for Cornwell telleth us Pag. 13. The right which a man hath by promise to a worke maketh the assurance of the promise but of debt unto him and then the promise is not sure to him out of grace Then all the promises of an established Kingdome to David and his seed if they should keep Gods commandements all the blessings and salvation promised to beleevers in the Old and New Testament so they bring forth the fruits of a lively faith are mercies of debt not of free-grace I well remember that the Famulists say It is dangerous to close with Christ in a promise And There can be no true closing with Christ in a promise that hath a qualification or condition expressed I rather beleeve the Holy Ghost Ho every one that thirsteth come to the water come buy wine and milke without money and without price Isai. 55.1 And if any man thirst let him come to me and drink Joh. 7.37 And whosoever will let him take of the water of life freely Revel 22.17 Mar. 1.15 If Cornwell can free willing thirsting desiring from working hee hath much divinity Yet the water of life and salvation promised to such cannot be debt but free grace for they are promised to these freely and to be bestowed without money Of the same straine is the fourth Argument of Cornwell Object 5. When sanctification is not evident it cannot be an evidence of justification But when justification is hidden and doubtfull sanctification is not evident Therefore sanctification cannot be our first evidence of justification The Minor is proved Because when faith is hidden and doubtfull sanctification is not evident But when justification is hidden and doubtfull faith is hidden and doubtfull therefore when justification is hidden and doubtfull sanctification is not evident The proofe of the Major is 1. Faith is the evidence of things not seen and so makes all things evident then when faith is hidden what can be cleare 2. Because no sanctification can be pure and sincere but when it is wrought in faith and so it cannot be evident but when it clearely appeareth to be wrought in faith Answ. 1. There is in the Conclusion first the first evidence of justification that is not in the premises against all art The Proposition When sanctification is not evident it cannot be an evidence of justification is weake and weakly proved For there is a twofold evidence one of sense and feeling spirituall another of faith When sanctification wants the evidence of faith that I cannot beleeve salvation from mine owne Christian walking yet may the soule have evidence of feeling and sense that we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Heb. 13.18 and wee dare say Lord wee delight to doe thy will and long for thee O Lord as the night-watch watcheth for the morning and whom have wee in heaven but thee c. and can out of sense give a testimony of our selves yea and can place all our delight in the excellent ones Psal. 16.3 119.62 1 Joh. 3.14 so as the heart warmes when we see the Saints and in this case sanctification is evident when remission of sinnes may be under cloud else this Argument does conclude if it have any feet that sanctification ever and at all times is dark when justification is dark and so sanctification is never an evidence of justification but when justification is evident So the wisdome of God is taxed as if hee would never have us to know that wee are translated from death to life because wee love the brethren but when wee evidently know wee are thus translated though wee had no love to the brethren Then the Lord hath provided a candle for his weak ones by this Argument when it is day-light but hath deny'd any candle-light moon-light or star-light when it is darke night 2. The Major is not proved Faith is not so the evidence of all things as that it maketh all things evident to our spirituall sense for Cornwell granteth faith may be hidden then it can evidence nothing when it is is hidden Love to the brethren keeping of his commandements yeeld sensible evidences that wee are justified even when faith is not evident and how many are convinced they have undoubted marks of faith and justification who doubt of their faith and justification And so the Minor and Probation of it is false for it is most false that when faith is hidden and doubtfull sanctification is not evident this is asserted gratis not proved As if yee would say Ever when the Well-head is hidden the streames are not seen when the sap and life of the tree is not seen but hidden the apples leaves and blossomes are not evident This is a begging of the conclusion for then should a man never neither first nor last know that hee is translated from death to life because hee loves the brethren Why Because when translation from death to life or when faith and justification is hidden the love to the brethren and all the works of sanctification are hidden saith this Author 3. The second proofe of the Major is lame Sanctification is never pure and sincere without faith saith hee Ergo It cannot be evident but when it appeareth to be wrought in faith The consequence is null just like this Sweet streames cannot flow but from a sweet spring ergo It cannot be evident and cleare to my taste that the streames are sweet except I taste the water at the fountaine-head and see it with mine eyes and my taste cannot discerne the sweetnesse of the fruit except my senses were
we are heard or not heard yet wee are lesse in praises when wee are heard and our desires fulfilled and in submission when wee are not heard then wee are forward to praise because necessity and straits can more easily obtaine of us to pray and set on moving the wheels of our affections then grace can keep our spirituall affections in heat of motion or limit and border our naturall affections in praising when they take them to their wings David Psal. 22. Psal. 69. O my God I cry night and day till my throat be dry in asking but where doth hee say O my God I praise night and day till my throat be pained in praising and my heart and eyes are wasted and spent in submissive waiting for thee and praising for not hearing mee in some things 6. God is equally gracious to his own in not hearing and granting as in fulfilling their desires 7. No man should take it hard not to be answered at the first when the prime heire Christ was kept knocking at his Fathers doore 8. Heard or not heard the prayers of faith have a gracious issue though the drosse of them be cast away 9 As praises have no issue but to give to God not to our selves so prayers in faith are to be offered to God as God though nothing returne in our bosome that God may be extolled Christ knew deliverance from this hour cannot be granted yet hee prayes 10 Faith is required no lesse to beleeve the good that the Lord mindeth us in not hearing us then the good hee intendeth in hearing and fulfilling our desires No condition of providence can fall wrong to faith which can flie with any wings and saile with every wind so long as Christ liveth Father save me from this houre Christ bottometh his prayer on the sweetest relation of a Father and a Son Father save me So Joh. 17. Father glorifie thy Son Vers. 5. And now Father glorifie me Six times in that prayer hâ—â— useth this stile Mat. 11.25 I thank thee O Father Lord of heaven and earth Mat. 26. O my Father remove this cup. His Father was great in his esteem none like his Father It s a strong argument to Christ to perswade an hearing and a deliverance and hee was heard in that which hee feared Hee had no end in his coming into the world but to doe the will of his Father Joh. 5.30 2. Love is a sweet ingredient in prayer the beloved Disciple John who onely of all the Evâ—ngelists setteth down Christ's love-prayer chap. 17 useth it more frequently then any of the other three Evâ—ngelists 3. Propriety interest and covenant-relation is a sweet bottome and a strong ground for prayer So in praying hath Christ taught us to say Our Father which art in heaven And Psal. 5.2 Hearken unto my voyce my King and my God 2 King 19.19 Now therefore O Lord our God I beseech thee save us out of his hand Ezra bottometh his prayer on this Chap. 9.6 O my God I am ashamed and blush And Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 20.12 O our God wilt thou noâ— judge them In prayer consider what claime and interest you have to God if you be a sonne and hee a Father Bastards cannot pray strangers without the Covenant and Heathen having no right to God as their God and Father may petition God as a subdued people doe their Conqueror or as ravens cry to God for food and as some howle upon their beds for corne and wine Hos. 7.14 but they cannot pray for praying aright to God there is required not onely gracious ingredients in the action but also a new state of adoption and filiation many speake words to God who doe not pray many tell over their sinnes who confesse not their sinnes to God many speake good of God who doe not praise God many sigh and grone in praying and have no deep sense of God or their owne sinfull condition Trees growing together make not alwayes a wood Ah our prayers God knowes are often out of their right wits Many cry Father to God but lie for they are not sonnes and their words are equivocation Thousands claime Father-ship in God where there is no Son-ship nor fundamentum in re no ground in the thing it selfe A new nature is that onely best bottome of praying that taketh it off from being a taking of the Name of God in vaine All creatures speak of God and in their kind to God but onely a sonne can speak to God in prayer as to his Father calling upon God with a pouring out of the soule to him in Christ is essentiall to sonnes Father save me from this houre Christ had no meanes of refuge safer and surer in his trouble when hee knew not what to doe then prayer Christ had never a greater businesse in hand then now hee was to transact with God and divine Justice the Law of God in the weighty bargaine of paying a ransome of dearest and preciousest bloud to open the new way to heaven hee had to doe with devills principalities and powers and hell to subdue devills and death and hell and to redeeme his Catholike Church from the second death and hee was to offer himselfe a Sacrifice to God through the eternall Spirit for the sinnes of the whole elect and hee must use prayer in all this great work The greatest works have been thus effectuated For the dividing of the red sea Moses cryed to the Lord and it was done Hezechiah obtaineth 15. yeares lease of his house of clay from Jehovah his Land-lord and how 2 King 20.2 Hee turned his face to the wall and prayed Jonah broke the prison of hell by prayer Jeremiah had many against him Chap. 20.12 Vnto thee saith hee to the Lord I have opened my cause Daniel in his captivity Ezra when the people were under wrath Ester and her maides when the Churches destruction is warped and in weaving by prayer loose the captive bands and break death's jawes So low a man as Job Chap. 7.20 was What shall I say to thee O preserver of man David looketh back to his prayers Psal. 34.6 and when hee is over-whelmed Psal. 61.2 From the ends of the earth will I cry to thee when my heart is overwhelmed To Elias this is the key that openeth heaven The last great work the perfecting of Mysticall Christ the judgeing of the world the putting crownes on the heads of so many thousand Kings must have prayer to bring it to passe Even so come Lord Jesus The putting and keeping on the crowne on Christs head is by prayer his Sword Crowne and Scepter stand and prosper by this prayer Thy Kingdome come 2. Though Christ knâ—w of his owne deliverance and was sure of it yet hee will not have it but by prayer Christ had Son right to heaven yet he will take a new gift of heaven by prayer-right Christ maketh prayer his new Charter Joh. 17.5 Father glorifie me with the glory which I
come into condemnation but is passed from death to life Ch. 7.37 If any man thirst let him come to me and drink Acts 13.39 And by him all that beleeve are justified from all things from which yee could not be justified by the Law of Moses Acts 16.30 The Jaylor saith to Paul and Silas what must I doe to be saved Vers. 31. And they said beleeve on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy houshold There is an expresse required of the Jaylor which he must performe if he would be saved And Rom. 10. looke as a condition is required in the Law Vers. 5. For Moses describeth the righteousnesse of the Law that the man that doth these things shall live by them So beleeving is required as a condition of the Gospel Vers. 6. But the righteousnesse which is of Faith c. Ver. 9. Saith that if thou confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt beleeve in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved Rom. 3.27.28.29.30 ch 4. ch 5. Faith is the condition of the Covenant of Grace and the only condition of Justification and of the title right and claime that the Elect have thorow Christ to life eternall Holy walking as a witnesse of faith is the way to the possession of the kingdome As Rom. 2.6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds Vers. 7. To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality eternall life Vers. 8. To them that are contentious Vers. 9. Tribulation and anguish upon every soule of man that doth evill of the Jew first and also of the Gentile Matth. 25.34 Then shall the King say to them on his right hand come yee blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Ver. 33. For I was hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirstie and ye gave me drink c. And let Antinomians say we are freed from the Law as a rule of holy walking sure the Gospel and the Apostles command the very same duties in the letter of the Gospel that Moses commanded in the letter of the Law as that children obey their parents servants their masters that we abstaine from murther hatred of our brother stealing defrauding lying c. that we keepe our selves from Idols swearing strange gods I doe not say that these duties are commanded in the same way in the Gospel as in the Law For sure we are out of a principle of Evangelike love to render obedience and our obedience now is not Legall as commanded by Moses in strict termes of Law but as perfumed oyled honeyed with the Gospel-sense of remission of sinnes the tender love of God in Christ. So that wee justly challenge two extreme waies both blasphemous as we conceive 1. Arminians object to us that which the Antinomians truely teach to wit that we destroy all precepts commands exhortations and active obedience in the Gospel and render men under the Gospel meere blocks and stones which are immediately acted by the Spirit in all obedience and freed from the Letter of both Law and Gospel as from a Legall bondage This we utterly disclaime and doe obtest and beseech Antinomians as they love Christ and his truth to cleare themselves of this which to us is vilde Libertinisme And by this Arminians turne all the Gospel in literalem gratiam in a Law-Gospel in meere golden letters and sweet-honeyed commandements of Law-precepts and will have the Law possible justification by works conversion by the power of free will and morall suasion really without the mighty power of the Spirit and Gospel-grace and receive the doctrine of merit and set heaven and hell on new Polls to be rolled about as Globes on these two Poles the nilling and willing of free-will and they make grace to be sweet words of silke and gold on the other hand Antinomians doe exclude words letter-perswasions our actions conditions of Grace promises written or preached from the Gospel and make the Spirit and celestiall rapts immediate inspirations the Gospel it selfe and turne men regenerate into blocks and how M. Den can be both an Antinomian and loose us from the Law and an Arminian defending both universall attonement and the resistible working of grace and so subject us to the Law and to the doctrine of Merit and make us lords of our owne faith and conversion to God let him and his followers see to it Wee goe a middle way here and doe judge the Gospel to bee an Evangelike command and a promising and commanding Evangel and that the Holy Ghost graceth us to doe and the Letter of the Gospel obligeth us to doe Pos. 3. The decree of Election to glory may bee said to bee more free and gracious in one respect and justification and glorification and conversion more free in another respect and all the foure of meere free grace For Election as the cause and fountaine-grace is the great mother the wombe the infinite spring the bottomlesse ocean of all grace and wee say effects are more copiously and eminently in the cause then in themselves as water is more in the element and fountaine then in the streames the tree more in the life and sapp of life then in the branches and conversion and justification have more freedome and more of grace by way of extension because good will stayeth within the bowels and heart of God in free election but in conversion and justification infinite love comes out and here the Lord giveth us the great gift even himselfe Christ God the darling the delight the onely onely well-beloved of the Father and he giveth Faith to lay hold on Christ and the life of God and all the meanes of life in which there be many divided acts of grace to speake so which were all one in the wombe of the election of grace Pos. 4. Conversion justification are free for election and therefore election is more free but all these as they are in God are equally free and are one simple good will Though Christ justifie and crowne none but such as are quallified with the grace of beleeving yet beleeving is a condition that removeth nothing of the freedome of grace 1. Because it worketh nothing in the bowels of mercy and the free grace of God as a motive cause or moving condition that doth extract acts of grace out of God only we may conceive this order that Grace of electing to glory stirres another wheele to speak so of free love to give Faith effectuall calling justification and eternall glory 2. It s no hire nor work at all nor doth it justifie as a worke but onely lay hold on the Lord our righteousnesse Object There is more of God in election to glory then in giving of Faith or at least of Christs righteousnesse and eternall glory therfore there must bee more grace in the one then in
72.12 All Nations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall serve him it s meant of Christ and in the letter cannot be true if many refuse him to be their King Psalm 2.9.2.3 Lâ—k 19 14. Psal. 110.1 So is it said Psal. 22.27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turne to the Lord and all the kindreds of â—he Nations shall worship before thee Now that he meaneth of spirituall turning to God and of Repentance is cleare Vers. 18. For the Kingdome is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations Vers. â—3 A seed shall serve him it shall be counted to the Lord for a Generation Except there be a restriction of this All how will Arminians eschew this that all and every man of the heathen shall repent and be a holy seed devoted to the Lord as his Righteous ones For sure the same expression of all Nations Esai 40.16 are taken for all and every one of mankinde Psalm 66 9. All Nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord and shall glorifie thy name Esai 66.23 And it shall come to passe that from one new Moone to another and from one Sabbath to another shall all flesh come â—o worship before me saith the Lord. Let Arminians speake if all flesh that commeth before God from Sabbath to Sabbath under the New Testament to worship be as large and comprehensive as the same expression Esai 40.6 All flesh is grasse Sure the latter comprehendeth all Adams Sonnes without exception even including infants the former cannot beare so wide a sense So Gen. 12.3 In thee shall all the Families of the earth be blessed Gen. 22.18 If the meaning be that without any figure or exception all and every family be blessed in Christ then shall I inferre that all the families of the earth without exception are justified by faith in Christ Gal. 3.10 11 12 13.14 And that the Nations of the earth without exception are heires of the promise have right to strong consolation are fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope laid before them and have anchored thâ—ir hope up within the veilo whither the fore-runner Christ hath entred for of these Nations the Apostle expoundeth the promise Hebr. 6.13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. So Esai 27.6 Israel shall blossome and bud and fill the face of the world with fruit then shall there bee none on earth but the blossoming Iâ—rael of God Rom. 11.26 And so all Israel shall be saved as it is written there shall come out of Sion a deliverer c. These that Paul calleth all Israel Esaiah 69.20 21. calleth Jaakob and the seed and the seeds seed Esaiah 59.19 So shall they feare the name of the Lord from the West and his glory from the rising of the Sunne Mal. 1.11 For from the rising of the Sunne even to the going downe of the same any name shall be great among the Gentiles and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering for my name shall bee great among the heathen saith the Lord of Hosts If from the East to the West and in all places of the Gentiles men feare the name of the Lord then sure the whole inhabitants of the earth between the rising of the Sunne to the going downe of the same must bee converted to Christ and offer prayers prayses spirituall service to Christ except some restriction be made the most part from the East to the West are enemies to the Gospel And how would Arminians triumph if so much were said for universall Redemption as here is said for universall Regeneration and Conversion of all except we say there must be a figure a Senechdoche of All for many Or Christs all and universalitie of converted ones must bee here meant Joh. 1.9 That was the true light that inlighteneth every one that commeth into the world What Even infants who come into the world and all and every one of Adams Sonnes it cannot bee true in any sense except it be meant of the light of the Gospel that yet never came to the halfe part of the world For Vers. 10. The world knew him not and Vers. 6. There was a man sent from God whose name was John ver 7. the same came for a witnesse to beare wâ—tnesse of the light that all men through him might beleeve Can any divinity teach that God intended that all and every mortall man should beleeve by him that is by the Ministery of John the morning starre which was to fall and disappeare and shine no more at the rising of Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse 1 Joh. 2.27 Yee need not that any teach you but the anointing that yee have received teacheth you all things Why should then fewer have the Spirit of holy unction in them then the world for whom Christ is a propitiation and all the visible Saints that John writeth unto 1 Joh. 1 2. 2.1.2 4.9 God sent his onely begotten Sonne to the world that we through him might live nor need we flee to that exposition ever and anone that Christ dyed for all that is all ranks of men For All is put in Scripture ordinarily for many as Deut. 1.21 Psal. 71.18 Ier. 15.10 and 19.9 and 20.7 and 23.30 and 49.17 Ezech. 16.27 Exod. 33.10 Col. 1.28 Isai. 61.9 Gen. 41.57 Mark 14.4 Joh. 3.26 Acts 17.31 and 10.38 Mark 1.37 2 Cor. â— 2 Luke 24.47 and 4.15 Isai 2.2 3. Otherwise I could say Christ died for no man because the Scripture ascribeth an universality to the wicked Jer. 6.28 c. 9.2 Mic. 1.7 1 Iohn 2.15 16. and 1 Iohn 5.19 And surely that election and redemption move both in the same spheare and or be of the free love of God is cleare to me from that place Ioh. 3.16 on which Arminians confide much for Gods love to save mankinde by the death of Christ is the very love of election to glory of such certaine persons as the Lord therefore gives grace to beleeve because they are ordained to life eternall so that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as many and the number of beleevers and of the chosen to life are equall Acts 13.48 Ioh. 10.26 Rom. 8.29.30 1. That love cannot bee a generall confused antecedent conditionall love offered to all the world on condition they beleeve for that the Scripture freeth thousands of the sinne of unbeliefe of that love if Christ come not to them and speake not Ioh. 15.22 and Paul saith Rom. 1.14 How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard Now the loved world Ioh. 3.16 is obliged to beleeve 2. That love that is the cause of Christs death is Ioh. 15.13 the greatest love that is it is such a giving love whereby Christ gives his Sonne that with him hee cannot but give his Holy Spirit faith and salvation yea and all things Rom. 8.32 But the conditionall generall love is not the greatest love for the Lord beareth not the greatest
heaven nor will this include all and every Nation without exception Erasmus would aske of those that will not admit an Hyperbole in Scripture if there were English and Scots there Ye tithe every herbe that is Herbs of all kinds Luke 11.42 Christ cured every disease Matth. 4. 23. Yee shall eat of every tree of the garden Gen. 2.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all his masters goods are in his hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 24.10 Now thus God will have all to be saved and Christ is the Mediator of all men 1 Tim. 2. which is not to be understood of all and every man but of Kings and low men and all conditions of men the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is thrice used in the Text. 1. We are no where but in this place only commanded to pray for all men but if for the eternall salvation of all and every one without exception is the doubt You shall not finde a warrant in the Word to pray that all mankinde may be saved absolutely for God hath revealed in his Word that he hath decrees of Election and Reprobation of men 2. And hath expresly forbidden to pray for their salvation that sinne to death 1 Iohn 5.16 And what Faith have we to pray for such for the salvation of Magistrates in that notion only we may pray for the peace of Babylon and for peace of Heathen Princes the Church being under them 3. God will have all men to be saved no other waies then he will have all to come to the knowledge of the truth that is of the Gospel Now how he will have all men without exception to come to the knowledge of the Gospel since this natural Antecedent and conditionall will to save all was in God toward the fallen Angels and the Gentiles in the time of the Old Testament when the Law of God and his will touching salvation through the Messiah to come was only revealed to the Jewes Deut. 7.7 Psal. 1 47.19 20. Let Arminians see for sure the Gospel is not and hath never been preached to all and every rationall creature and to all men yet he wills all men by Arminians grounds to come to the knowledge of the Gospel Now we know not how God who hath this naturall will eternally in him as they say willeth the heathens to come â—o the knowledge of the Gospel except he send Apostles with the miraculous gift of tongues to them to preach in their language 4. He instances in a specie of the all he spoke of v. 1. in Magistrates though Heathen Thanksgiving here for all and every man must also be commanded as well as prayer even for Julian and the greatest scourges and bloody Scorpions that lay heaviest stripes on the back of the Church Sure we have no faith to beleeve this in reference to their salvation 5. Paul must here speak of the Lords effectuall will whom he saveth and will have to be saved and to heare the Gospel they must be saved So the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.9 8. The Lord is long-suffering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to us willing none of us to whom he is long-suffering to perish but will have all us to whom hee extendeth this long-suffering to come to repentance For he gives a reason why the day of judgement comes not so quickly but is so delayed that lustfull men scoffes at it because God waites till all the elect be gathered in they should perish and should not come to the knowledge of the truth if the Lord should hasten that day as Matth. 24. For the Elects sake the ill daies are shortned not for the reprobate So to this ransome Paul vers 7. is appointed a Preacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth this must be the Gentiles that beleeve and come to the knowledg of the truth nor did Paul beare this testimony to all and every one of the Gentiles yet Arminians say God will have all and every one of Jewes and Gentiles saved and ransomed as also he restricts the peaceable and godly life to the Church taking in himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. that we may lead c. 6. His reason There is one God so much as of all orders in the Christian Church there is one God the King and Magistrate as touching his office hath not one God and the poore another God the Jewes have not one God and these I preach to the Gentiles vers 7. another the husband hath not one God and the wife another for these three orders Magistrats and these that are under them Jewes Gentiles Husband Wives are in the Text and if that poore argument of Master Moores had bloud or nerves because there is one God and because he names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men therefore God will save all and the Ransome must be as wide and spacious as the reason God is God to all and every one and all and every man is a man it may prove that these that blaspheme and sinne to death these of Bythinia and Samaria and all the Gentiles that the Lord wincked at and did not invite to repentance Act. 14.17 they left off to be men and God was not a God in relation to them as to the worke of his hands for sure God is not in covenant with all and every one of mankind for thousands that are men are without the covenant I demand of this universall will of God to save all and every one and the ransome for all and every one was it ever heard off in one letter in the Old Testament except by prophecying what was to be under the New Never Now was there not one God and one Mediator in the Old as in the New And naturall and universall desires and wils in God to save men as men and that God should save men as one God doe not rise and fall in God but sure his will called his command and revealed in the Gospel is larger under the Gospel nor it was before the Messiahs time otherwise God no otherwise willed all men to be saved amongst the Jewes as their God in covenant with them then hee willed all the Gentiles and every man of the heathen to be saved which contradicts Old and New Testament broadly for in the time of the Old Testament God willed not Moab Ammon Tyre Sidon Philistims Egyptians to come to the knowledge of the truth and Gospel 2 Sam. 7.23 Deut. 4.34 Psalm 147.19 7. God no more wills all and every man to be saved and come to beleeve so they will all and every one beleeve then he wills all and every one to bee damned so they beleeve not and refuse the Gospel the one will is as universall as the other 8. It is no justice that the ransome should be payd for all and every one and the captives remaine in prison eternally it s against the law Exod. 21. â—0 Exod. 30.12 15. Yee the Lords Ransomed Esai 35.9 10. Must obtaine everlasting joy in
and numerous off-spring of children and when they are gathered together they are a faire beloved world In the Hebrew many and great are often one and the same As one Rubie is worth ten hundreth one Saphir worth thousands of common stones so one Saint is more then ten thousand wicked men then all together they must be an All a world a whole world of ransomed ones hidden ones Psal. 83.4 of the Lords Jewels Mal. 3.17 and of Christs precious ones Isai. 43.4 they are the floure and the choise of mankinde 2. Christ is willing to take away all heart-exceptions of unbeliefe from men As. 1. Can God bee borne of a woman to save men not Angels Beleeve it saith the Lords Spirit with a sort of oath Heb. 2.16 Verily hee tooke on him the seede of Abraham not the nature of Angels Halt not at Christs man-kindnesse and not Angel-love to the excellenter childe by nature the Angel when he fell and it s to remove our doubts that God is brought in promising and swearing the covenant Christ is a sworne covenanter Heb. 6.12 When God made promise to Abraham because hee could sweare by no greater he sware by himselfe Ezech. 33. The people slandred the Lord he delighted so to have the people pine away in their iniquities that hee would punish them for no fault but the childrens teeth should be set on edge for the sinnes of the father and the grapes that they eate not themselves The Lord answers that calumnie Ezech. 18. And here as I live I delight not so so as you slanderously and blasphemously say in the death of a sinner by my life I desire you may repent and live nor have I pleasure to punish innocent men for no sinne at all And the second Exception is But Christs heart is not ingaged with a heart-burning purpose or desire to save man the purpose of saving came upon him but yesterday yea but saith Christ it was not a yesterdayes businesse but was contrived from eternity Proverb 8. before the Lord made Sea or Land vers 30. I was by him as one brought up as a sonne nourished with him I was daily when there was neither night nor day his delights rejoycing in the habitable earth and my delighâ—s were with the sonnes of men Two words expresse Christ old and eternall love to men his delights was with the sonnes of men as Christ was his Fathers delight from eternitie so was Christ feasting himselfe on the thoughts of love delight and free grace to men sure not to Pharoah Judas and all the race of the wicked and with such a love as if free will please should never injoy one sonne of Adam 2. I was saith Christ playing and sporting in the habitable earth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to play in a dance it is 2 Sam. 6.21 spoken of Davids dancing before the Ark and 1 Sam. 18.7 The women in Israel playing answered one another in their songs It holds forth this that it resolves the question that Augustine loosed to a curious head asking what the Lord was doing before the world was he was delighting in his sonne Christ and the thoughts of the Lord Iesus in that long and endlesse age were solacing him and they were skipping and passing time in loving and longing for the fellowship of lost men and since God was God O boundlesse duration the Lord Iesus in a manner was loving and longing for the dawning of the day of Creation and his second coming againe to judgement the marriage day of union with sinners Christ was as it were from eternity with childe of infinite love to man and in time in the fulnesse of time it blossomed forth and the birth came out in a high expression of love the man-childe the love of Christ was borne and saw the light Gal. 4.4 Tit. 3.4 when Christ was ripe of love to bring forth free salvation glory glory to the Wombe and the Birth And a third Exception is But sinners dis-obliged Christ and provoked him as his enemies can it be that in time seeing how undeserving we were he could heartily and seriously die for man offer himselfe to all God may have mercy on the work of his hand but he cannot have mercy on sinners Answ. 1. It s true the Gospel is contrary to nature and not one Article more thwarteth and crosseth carnall wisedome then that of imputed righteousnesse That crosseth Morall Phylosophy so much as we can more easily beleeve the rising of the dead or any the greatest miracle the drying up of the red Sea then beleeve the Gospel for we beleeve the Gospel for miracles as motives not as causes of Faith not Miracles for the Gospel and if at the first we beleeve the Gospel for Miracles then we naturally rather beleeve Miracles and the dividing of the Red Sea and the raising of the dead then we can beleeve that Christ came to die for sinners 2. Consider with what a strong good will Christ died Luke 9.51 And it came to passe when his time was come that he should be received up he stedfastly set his face to goe to Jerusalem He hardned his face he emboldned himself to goe to Jerusalem to suffer he mended his pace and went more swiftly with a strong fire of love to expend his blood Luke 12.50 I have a baptisme to be baptized with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how am I fettered or besieged as the word is used Luke 19.43 till it be perfected 3. What could move Christ to lie and fancie were his weeping and tears counterfeit were his dying bleeding sweating pain sorrow shame but all shewes for the market and to take the people Isai. 53.44 Surely really he bare our sorrowes 4. His offer must be reall Joh. 7.37 for with vehemency he speaks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He stood and shouted in the Temple if any man thirst let him come to me and drinke Here is a dear fountain to all thirsty soules and most free Christ thirsteth and longeth to have thirsty sinners come gratis and drink But I doubt he beares not me in particular at good will are the promises made for me Did he love me before the world was Did Christ dying intend salvation for me This doubt draweth us to the fift particular that so I may hasten to the uses which is what sort of Faith it is that God requireth of all within the visible Church for the want whereof Reprobates are condemned Assertion 1. Saving Faith required of all within the visible Church is not as Antinomians conceive the apprehension of Gods everlasting love of Election to glory of all and every one that are charged to beleeve Saltmarsh in an ignorant and confused Treatise tells us To beleeve now is the only worke of the Gospel that is that ye be perswaded of such a thing that Christ was crucified for sins and for your sins so as salvation is not a businesse of
is chosen to salvation from eternity so Election is neither precept nor promise but a truth of Gods gracious good will and pleasure hid in Gods mind till he be pleased to reveal it by the fruits thereof There can bee no such imaginable double dealing in the world as Arminians lay upon God For they make the Lord to say thus as imagine a King should speak to twenty thousand captives I have a good will purpose hearty intention and earnest desire to make you all and every one free Princes and pray wish obtest and beseech you subscribe such a Writ of grace for that end but I only can lead your hand at the Pen and give you eyes to see and a willing heart to consent to your own happinesse and if you refuse to signe the Bill of grace you shall be tormented for ever and ever in a river of fire and brimstone Again I have a like good will to my own justice and purpose so to carry on the designe as that sixteen thousand of you shall not have the benefit of my hand or of one finger to lead your hand at the pen nor any efficacious motion to act upon your will to obtain your consent to subscribe the Writ yea by the contrary though I of exceeding great free love will intend decree and purpose you bee all Princes of glory yet I purpose that these sixtâ—eâ— thousand whose salvation and happinesse I extreamly desire shall for their former rebellion which I with the like desire of spirit could and I only might have removed never be moâ—od to consent to this Bill of grace Now were not this the outside of a good will aâ—d should not this Prince bee said rather to will and desire the destruction of these sixteen thousand and not their honour and happinesse Asser. 3. This is the mystery of the Gospel in which I must professe ignorance and that the Lords thoughts are not as our thoughts nor his wayes as ourwayes he hath by the preaching of the gospel ingaged thousand thousands within the visible Church to the duty of their fidutiall adherence and heart resting on Christ as they would be saved and yet hath the Lord never purposâ—d to work their hearts and he only can do it to this heart-resting on Christ by faith nor hath he purchased either remission of sinnes or pardon for them If any object how can Christ in equitie judge and condemne them for not beleeving pardon and salvation in his blood when as neither pardon nor salvation are purchased in this blood to them nor purposeth he to give them faith Yet we may plead for the Lord we conceive of the decree of God as of a deep policie and a stratagem and snare laid for us whereas the Lord lies not in wait for our ruine nor carries he on a secret designe in the gospel to destroy men If Christ should say in the Gospel-precepts promises or threatnings I decree purpose and intend to redeeme all and every man but I purpose to carry on the designs so as the far greatest part of mankinde inevitably shall be lost it should be a stratagem but the gospel as the gospel revealeth not any decree or intention of God touching the salvation or damnation of men intended from eternitie Indeed the gospel as obeyed or disâ—beyed reveals Gods intentions and decrees the gospel revealeth nothing but the Lords complacencie approbation and good-liking of the sweet connexion between faith and salvation the just concatenation between unbeliefe disobedience and eternall damnation so the gospel reveals duties but not the persons saved or damned the Lords working with the gospel or the efficacie of the gospel which is a far other thing reveals the persons Now the difficulty is how the Lord can command the reprobate to beleeve life and salvation in Christ when there is no life and salvation either intended to them or purchased for them To which I answer 1. God gave a law to all the angels created in the truth If ye abide in the truth ye shall be eternally happy ye cannot say that the devils in that instant were to beleeve that God intended and decâ—eed them for eternall happines and to give them â—fficacious grace by which they should abide in the truth as their fellow-Angels did Gods command and promise did reveal no such intention of God So the Lord said to Adam and to all his seed If ye keep the law perfectly ye shall have life eternall according to that Do this and live yet was not Adam then far lesse these that are now under the Law to beleeve that God ordained them from eternitie to eternall life legally purchased or that any flesh should be justified by the works of the Law Arminians tell us that there be numbers judicially blinded and hardned within the visible Church who cannot beleeve and whom the Lord hath destined for destruction yet the word is preached to them they hear and read the promises of the gospel and the precepts Whither are they to beleeve that God intended from eternitie to them salvation and grace to beleeve I think not For they teach that Christ neither prayeth for nor intendeth to die for the unbeleeving and obstinate world as such nor decreed their salvation and except men may fancie sences on the words of Gods Spirit where learned they to expound the word World when it makes for them for all and every one of mankinde and when it makes against them for the least part of mankinde and that eâ—ther within the visible Church only or yet without the visible Church for in both Satans world of disobedient ones is the far greatest part sâ—eing the whole world lyes in sinne as John saith Let it be also remembred when Arminians say the Lamb of God taketh away the sinnes of the world that is of all and every mortall man they mean Christ takes not away nor sheddeth he his blood for the sinnes of the rebellious world so the worlds rebellion contuâ—â—acie and infidelitie against Christ must be pardoned without shedding of blood and if Christ did bear all the sinnes of the world on the crosse conditionally and none of them absolutely â—hen our act of beleeving must be the onely neerest cause of satisfaction for sinnes but why then if Christ satisfied on the crosse for the finall impenitencie and unbeliâ—fe of the rebellious world conditionally so they beleeve and be not rebellious but Arminians should say right downe Christ died for the rebellious and contumatious world and he prayes for the contumacious world as such but conditionally for he prays and dieth for the not rebellious world of all mortall men not absolutelie but conditionally so they beleeve in Christ if they beleeve not neither the prayers of Christ nor his death are more effectuall for them then for Devils To all these wee may adde that the Lord in commanding reprobates to rest on Christ for salvation though no salvation be purchased for them
12.10 and of the Spirit on the thirsty ground Esai 44.3 is a work of creation Ephes. 2.10 Psal. 51.10 a quickning of the dead Ephes. 2.1.2.3.4 Ioh. 5.25 2 Cor. 4.6 and the wildernesse is not here a coagent for the causing roses to blossome out of the earth 2. The effect is not wholly denyed of the collaterall cause and ascribed wholly to another If Peter and Iohn draw a ship between them with joynt strength you cannot say the one drew the ship not the other But Christ said flesh and blood maketh no revelations of Christ but his father only Mat. 16.17 Mat. 11.25.26.27 Iam. 1.18 Ioh. 1.18 Then neither blood nor the will of man contribute any active inâ—â—uence to the first framing of the new birth nor can clay divide the glory of regeneration with the God of grace who maketh all things new Asser. 2. The soule or its faculties are not destroyed in conversion Peters will which he had when he was young was the same when converted but renewed Ioh. 21.18 the Saints that Peter writeth to are not to â—unne to the same excesse of ryot as of old they wrought the will of the Gentiles 1 Pet. 4.3.4 Paul and Titus were the same men when dâ—sobedient and serâ—ing divers lusts and when converted and now washen regeneratâ—d and justified heirs Tit. 3.1.2.3.4 Paul the same man a persecuter and an Apostle but Grace made a change 1 Cor. 15.9.10 the same minde and spirit remaineth in nature but they are renewed in the spirit of the minde Rom. 12.2 Eph. 4.23 It is the same heart but turned to the Loâ—d 2 Cor. 3.15.16 Christ but removeth the scum and the drosse and the false metall and frames the man a new vessell of mercy Asser. 3. The person of the holy Ghost is not united to the soul of a beleever nor are there two persons here united or made one Spirit by union of person with person but the person is said to come to the Saints and to dwell with them and to be in them Ioh. 14.16.17 and God hath sent the Spirit of his son in our hearts crying Abba Father not that the holy Ghost in propper person doth in us formally and immediately beleeve pray love repent c. We being meer patients in understanding will affections memory as Libertines teach But the holy Ghost cometh to the Saints and dwelleth in them in the spirituall gifts and saving graces and supernaturall qualities câ—eated in us by the holy spirit and acted excited and moved as supernaturall and heavenly habits to act with the vitall influence of our understanding will and affeâ—â—ions I prove the former part 1. Because such a union of the person of the holy Ghost in us beleeving loving joying praying and immediately in us were that blasphemous dei-fying and Goding of the Saints so as beleeving loving praying were not our works but the immediate acts of the holy Ghost and either the faint manner of beleeving or the cold slacked loving and praying of Saints or their not beleeving and sinfull omission of the acts of faith love praying rejoycing could not be more imputed to Saints as their sinfull defects and transgressions but must be laid on the holy Ghosts score then we can impute the splitting of a ship to the ship it self and not to the negligent and willfull pilot who of purpose dashed the vessell on a rock but we must not in reason blame the ship but the Pilot for the losse of the ship is the onely and proper fault of the man that stirred the ship and the ship is innocent and harmlesse timber Now what sinne can be in the Saints in these supernaturall acts if the holy Ghost immediately in his owne person stirre the helme and only without us act these in us we might with as good reason say the shop that a man worketh in doth make the portrait which is a great untruth since the artificer in the shop doth it as say that the Saints doe pray beleeve rejoyce if the holy Ghost immediateâ—y doe all these in them as in a shop 2. Vpon the same ground the Lords coming down and filling Iohn Baptist from his mothers womb and the Apostles and Steven full of the holy Ghost should be the holy Ghosts personall filling of them and his immediate acting in them without any action of them in preaching praying and their heavenly bold confessing of Christ before men and there should be no difference betweene the Ark and Temple of Ierusalem filled with the immediate presence of God in the Lords manifestation of his glory there and these Saints filled with God in these works of free grace I shall not beleeve that the person of God can be said to be united to either Ark Temple Apostle or Martyr all the union is in the effects and manifestations of graces or tokens of Divine presence which are creatures rising and falling with time 3. That excellent and living â—rk the most gloâ—ious and admirable thing that heaven hath the Lord Iesus is God and man two natureâ— united in one person But both the word of God making that He that same Holy thing borne of the virgin Mary the Son of God Luke 1.5 and that same He and person who came of the Iewes according to the flâ—sh to be God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 Hâ—br 7.3 Matth. 16.13.16 and the third generall Councell called that of Ephesus and after the counsell of Chalcedone ver 4. and 5. doe evidence to us that Christ cannot be two persons as Nestorius dreamed and one person Paul spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Iliricum about ten hundreth miles I know not he but the Grace of God that was with him 1 Cor. 15.9.10 not hee but the Lord True but the question now is whether Paul and the holy Ghost in all these works of grace were two persons become one Spirit by union as some dreamers affirme because both did the work I beleeve not God and cloudâ— rained down Manna to Israel O but Christs father Ioh· 6. gave the Manna but the question is if the person of God were united with the clouds or any second caâ—ses producing Manna so the Lord maketh rich and poore killetâ— and maketh alive maketh snow froast fair weather dâ—outh and raine the Sunne to rise and go downe and that in his owne person Father Sonne and Spirit He he onely made Heaven Earth Sea and all creatures and the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 17.25 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal. 33.9 doe prove him to be a person who doth all these But we cannot say that the person of God must be united with Clouds Ship Sea Sunne Heavens Men fighting and Men Saving and Killing and that God personally filleth all creatures only God in the immensitie of â—is nature is all these and every where and is in them by his operation so the holy Ghost is with the Saints and dwelleth in 〈◊〉 not by union of his person to them or the immensitie
and committing of fornication 2. Because for not mortifying of fornication the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience ver 6 Now wrath comâ—s not on wicked men because they believe not that Christ abstained from fornication for them many walk in uncleannesse covetousnesse who are therefore under wrath who are not obliged to believe that because they never â—eard the Gospel 3. Such an abstinence from fornication is here commanded as the Colossians and other Gentiles walked in ver 7. and which they had now put off with the old man ver 8. But the Colossians while they were Gentiles and heard not of the Gospel did not walk in this as in a sin that they believed not that Christ abstained from fornication for them and satisfied divine justice for their fornication but their sin was that in person they committed these sinnes 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearely beloved I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from flâ—sâ—ly lusts that warre against the soule ver 24. Who his own self bare our sinnes in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sinnes should live to righteousnesse Rom. 8.11 And if the Spirit of him that raised Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall alsâ— quicken your mortall bodies ver 12. Therefore brethren we are debters not to thâ— flesh to live after the flâ—sh vers 13. for if yee live after the flâ—sh yee shall die But if yee through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live ver 10. If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections lusts Gal. 2 1â— For I through the Law am dâ—ad to the Law that I might live unto God all Gospel-commands to subdue the lusts of flesh not to serve the flesh as debters paying rent thereunâ—o to mortifie the deeds of the body not to live to our selves c. were meer precepts for justification not for sanctification and mortification of lusts and should â—urn the Saints into meere Solifidians Gnosticks empty Professors and fruitlesse trees if ouâ— mortification were not in the weakning of lusts â—bstinence from sin service and living to him who is our ransomner There is nothing more false then that ever our Divines taught to mortifie sinnes by vowes promises strictnesse and severity oâ— duties watchfulnesse scarce rising so high for mortification as Christ For its Christ and faith in his death that is the spring and fountaine of mortification yet is mortification formally in holy walking and not formally in belâ—eving for then should we be justified by mortification for sure we are justified by faith 2. Faith is a duty of the first Table respecting God in Christ as its object mortification to uncleannesse vaine-glory or the like is a duty of the second Table respecting men Asser. 4. The living of the just by faith is as well the life of sanctification as of justification its true the life of justification is the cause more compleat and perfect and the other the effect and unperfect but our spirituall condition is not only in sanctification but also in justification And only enemies of free-grace separate the one from the other and highten the one to feed men on the East wind and lessen the other as if sanctification were an accident and some indifferent Ceremony that men walk after the flâ—sh and believe that Christ for them walked after the Spirit and that is enough nor doe wee teach men to weigh their state of Grace in the scales of mortification or simple not acting of sin as mortification commeth from morall and naturall principles but as it floweth from faith apprehending Christ crucified and from the Spirit of the Father and the Son drawing the sinner to Christ and our blessednesse is no lesse in that corruption is subdued and the dominion removed then in that the curse is taken away Saltmarsh when he willeth the sinner as a sinner a Parricide a Man-slayer a slave to his lusts to beâ—ieve and apply Christ as his Redeemer without any sense of sin or humiliation at all and then saith the mans blessednesse is more to have the curse of sin then the corruption of sinne removed clearly concludeth that a man that walks after his lusts in actuall lusting against the Lord Iesus and the Gospel proud vaine selfe-righteous is as such a man to believe and so blessed and may promise to himselfe peace though he walk after the imaginations of his own heart Nor is arguing against the tentation with spirituall reason frâ—m the word as Ioseph did Gen. 39.8.9 and Job ch 2.9.10 and David 2 Sam. 16.7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. our own power or contrary to the fighting by the shield of faith the Word of God as Saltmarsh imagineth Assert 5. It is to be reputed as a most blasphemous assertion that we know we are Christs not because we crucifie the lusts of the flesh but because we do not câ—ucifie them Pet 1. Crucifying of our lusts is a mark of our being in â—hrisâ— Gal. â— 24 Rom. 8.13 This maketh walking afâ—er the Spirit and a parting from iniquity and being pure in Spirit and dying to an 〈◊〉 of no interest in Christ contrary to Rom. 8.1 2. 2 Tim. 2.19 Math. 5.8 1 Pet. 24. Gal. 1.4 1 Pet. 1.18 and contrary to the whole Gospel which was that blasphemy of David George who taught mortification was to act all uncleannesse without shame or sense of sinne â—nd the more men are vâ—yd of the common passion that follows sin the more mortified and spirituall they are and this is very like â—â—e Libertines way who teach That to take delight in the holy service of God is to goe a whooring from God and that they are legally biassed that would mortifie the flâ—sh by watchfulnesse and strictnesse of walking whereas to put our duties on the Throne with Christ and to put Christs crown on our mortification as if we were thereby justified is the Idolatry But the delighting in the Law of the Lord and taking of the Lords testimonines for our heritage a serving the Lord with chearefulnesse and fervor of Spirit Psal. 1.2 Psal. 119.111.262 Isai. 58.13 Psal. 112.1 Rom. 7.22 Rom. 12.8 2 Cor. 9.7 Phil. 4.4 Act. 20.24 Iaem 1.2 are marks of a blessed condition If any teach that wee mortifie the flesh by watchfulnesse and strictnesse of walking as if these did merit mortification we judge it cursed doctrine but if Libertines deny as they doe that acts of mortification doe formally consist in watchfull strict and accurate walking with God in being not taken nor madly drunken with the lusts of sin but dead to pleasures as these acts flow from the Spirit of Christ we curse their fleshly doctrine also It s no consequent to say because Regeneration is not a work of nature but of the Spirit of God and the way of the
O how admirable was his love and that love was Christs last work in this life he dyed of no other sicknesse but love love love was Christs death-work Christs Testament Christs winding sheet Christs grave he took his Bride lapped in his love and hart to Paradise with him his last breath was love The myrrhe when it is withered has the same smell and a sweeter that it had while it was gâ—een Christ that bundle of myrrhe that lyeth all the night between the Churches breasts when withered and dead smelled of love for hee opened the graves and raised the dead and took a repenting sinner to Paradise with him which are acts of great love its considerable that hee is at one time a dying a drawing and a loving Saviouâ— and ask what was Christs last act on earth it s answered he dyed in the very act of loving and drawing sinners to his heart Vse We are engaged to love him and if so to keepe his commandments and to draw him after us his owne image hoâ—inesse in the Saintâ— takes Christ and causes him fall in love with us Cant. 4.9 Thou hast ravished my heart my sister my Spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes with a chaine of thy neck It s much love that ravishes Christ yâ—a it so overcomes him that hee professes its above him hee must desire his Spouse to looke away Cant. 6.5 Turne away thine eyes from me for they have overcome me Cant. 7.5 The king is held in his galleries holinesse makeâ— our king the Lord Iesus a captive for eternitie he will delight to see the Lambs wife his bride when shee shall bee decked up with endlesse glory Bee holy and the king shall desire your beauty ingage Christ more to love you deck your selves with chains with bracelets be attired in raiment of needle work the braver in this apparell you are yee are the lovelier to Christ the wedding garment makes you fair to the king put on the crowne of grace on your head and bee highly beloved of this Prince Ver. 33. Now this he spoke signifying what death he should dye The last article in Christs drawâ—ng of sinners is the exposition of the Evangelist Iohn who openeth to us the sense of Christs words to wit what was meant by Christs lifting up from the earth for it is not an ordinary phrase to expresse dying on the crosse therefore saith Iohn hee meaned by his lifting up from the earth the kinde and manner of his death to wit that he should bee crucified and dye the shamefull and ignominious death of the crosse it would seeme that the exposition of Iohn may be referred to the whole verse 32. What is the sense of this If Christ be lifted up hee will draw all men up to him that is if he be crucified by that shamefull and painfull death and the merito thereof he will draw all men to him and translate them from the kingdome of darknesse to the state of saving grace which is true in it self but seemeth not to bee the sense of the words 1. Because the Evangelists use to expound what may appeare ambiguous to the hearers as Ioh. 7.8.39 But this he spoke of the Spirit â—oh 20.23 Then went this saying abroad among the Brethren that that disciple Iohn should not dye yet Iesus â—aid not to him hee shâ—ll not dye So Matth. 2.16.17 18. But that Christ draweth sinners by his death was not so much controverted for to come to Christ to beleeve in Christ to bee drawen to Christ were Phrases obvious enough and known to all 2. It is most pertinent to the text that lifting up from the earth which is ambiguous and may seeme to allude to Elias his beeing carried up to heaven should bee expounded by Chriâ—â—s manner of death to wiâ— by crucifying 3. Because the holy Ghost expoundeth not the connexion of the conditionall proposition If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men after me which he must doe if the sense goe thus but onely speaketh of the kinde and nature of Christs death which was known to the â—ewes to bee both shamefull and cursed but in his exposition hee speaks nothing of the fruit of Christs death but of the kinde and manner of death Now that the Evangelist expoundeth the sence of Christs words what he meaned by being lift up from the earth it holdeth forth to us a necessity that the Lord speak plaine language to us in scripture and that one scripture expound another In finding the meaning of scripture these considerations may give light 1. The Scripture in the plainest expressions is dark that is high and deepe in regard of the matter which is deepe high above the reach of reason and yet the language plaine obvious easie that a virgin shall be a mother the antient of dayes a young sucking infant that through one man death digged a hole in the world and sinne passed on all through a second Man life and heaven entered again are high and deepe mysteries yet is not the Gospel obscure as Papists say 2. In meer historicall narrations and prophecies foretelling the wars of the Lamb the Dragon and the Beast the Antichrist their persuing the woman in traveling in birth to bring forth a man child the matter subject is not profound nor deepe yet the expressions are dark and covered while the works of the Lord bee a key to open his word Here 's the wisdome of God that in deepe and high mysteries necessary for salvation the Lord is plaine and lower and easier stories are foretold more darkly articles of faith are not set downe in dark and enigmaticall prophesies but plainly whereas histories of things to come are more mysteriously proposed 3. The Scripture in no place is in the popish sense dark that is that we are not to take any sense for the word of life and the object of our faith but that which the Church giveth as the sense in regard the Scripture is a nose of wax with equall propension to contradictory senses except the mistris of our faith the witch of Babel expound it and then it is for such formally the word of God as she expoundeth it 4. The holy Ghost the Authour of Scripture has concreated with the words the true native sense which all the powers on earth cannot alter Then when we sweare a covenant with the Lord in plaine easie countrey language not devised of purpose to bee ambiguous or to hold forth that all sects Antinomians Socinians Arminians Prelatiâ—all halters Anabaptists Seekers c. may salve every one his owne way and his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what hee thinks good to obtrude any authoritative interpretation on this covenant which it holds not forth in its owne simple words to the reader is the greatest tyranny and equivocating jugling in the world and we may easily distinguish and dispute our selves out of a good conscience or rather confesse wee had never any
heaven 2. There should have been no Gospel no actuall redemption on earth no Gospel-song of Ransomed ones in heaven Worthy is the Lambe c. Had sinne never been there had never been one whisper nor voyce in heaven of a Lambe sacrificed and slaine for sinners there had been no Gospel-tune of the now-eternall song of free grace in heaven there had been silence in that blessed Assembly of the first borne of any Psalme but of Law-musicke men obeyed a Law without being in debt to the grace of a Mediator and therefore they live eternally 3. Grace free grace should never have come out on the stage as visible to the eye of Men and Angels 4. If sinne had never broken in on the world the Guests of free grace that now are before the throne and once were foule and uggly sinners on earth Mary Magdalene with her seven Devils Paul with his hands once hot and smoaking with the bloud of the Saints and his heart sicke with malice and blasphemy against Christ and his followers and the rest of the now-whit and washen ones whose robes are made faire in the bloud of the Lambe and all the numerous millions which none can number whose heads now are warmed in that best of lands with a free crowne and are but bits of free grace should not have been in heaven at all as the free-holders and tenants of the exalted Redeemer the man Jesus Christ there had not beene one tenent of pardoning mercy in heaven But O what depth of unsearchable wisdome to contrive that lovely plot of free grace and that that River and Sea of boundlesse love should runne through and within the banks of so muddy Inkie and polluted a channell as the transgressions and sinnes of the Sonnes of Adam and then that on the sides and borders of that deepe River should grow green budding and blooming for evermore such Roses and Paradice-Lilies smelling out heaven to Men and Angels as pardoning mercy to sinners free and rich grace to traitors to the crowne of heaven the God-love of Christ Jesus to man Come warme your hearts all intellectuall capacities at this fire O come ye all created faculties and smell the precious ointments of Christ O come sit down under his shaddow tast and eat the apples of life O that Angels would come and generations of men and wonder admire adore fall down before the unsearchable wisdom of this Gospel-art of the unsearchable riches of Christ. 13. If then love and so deep Gospel-love be despised broken men sleighting surety-love and marriage-love and then dying in such a debt as trampled on Covenant-love bloud-love must be areasted with the saddest charge of Gospel-vengeance I would have saved you and yee would not be saved comming from the mouth of Christ must be a seale to all the curses of the Law and a vengeance of eternall fire beyond them But we either in these sad times will have the grace of Christ a Cypher and yet to doe all things which is the Antinomians wanton licentiousnesse or free will to doe all things and grace to doe nothing but that nature should be the umpire and Soveraigne and grace the servant and vassell which is the Arminians pride for feare they be beholden to Jesus Christ and hold heaven on a writing of too free grace sure the Gospel goeth a middle way and the difference of Devils white or black should not delude us for both are black and tend to the blacknesse of darkenesse and shift the soule of Christ and break up a new North-west way to heaven that our guid to glory may not be the Captaine of our salvation who brings many children to glory but either loose licence without Law or lordly pride without Gospel-grace Now the very God of peace establish us in his truth and in such a thorny wood of false Christs and false Teachers give us the morning-star and his conduct to glory who knows the way and is the way the truth and the life Yours in the Lord Iesus S. R. A TABLE OF THE Contents of the Treatise OPening of the Words Pag. 1. It is good in our minde to act our sufferings ere they come Pag. 2.3 Parts of the Text. Pag. 3. Five particulars touching Christs soule-trouble 3. How pure and heavenly Christs affections are 3.4 Our affection are muddy 4.5.6 The perfection of Christs affections 4.5 What peace Christ had with his soule-trouble 6. A troubled soule consisted with the personall union and how this must be and how it can be 7.8 God exacted not satisfaction for sinnes by necessity of nature 8. The way of grace how lovely 9. Christ in soule-trouble and yet the union not dissolved 9. Familists teach that Christ is incarnate in beleevers 10. Christ suffered in his soule kindly and not by concomitancie only 11. Christs precious soule lyable to suffering 11. We are to beare death patiently seeing Christ dyed 12. No wonder all things bee lyable to change since Christ was in soule-trouble 12.13 What love in Christs undertaking for us 13. Christ cast up his accounts and saw what hee was to give out and what to get in in his suffering for us 14 Loves way of saving man 14 Our softnesse and selfe-wisdome in suffering 15.16 Our mis-judging of God under the crosse 16 Our coldnesse of love to Christ. 17 Evangelick love is more then Law-love 18 Sinnes against love are wounding 18 What a soule troubled for sinne is 19 Christs being over-clowded incomparably the greatest soule-trouble that ever was 19 Christ was to bleed for sinne as sinne 21 According to the fulnesse of the presence of the God-head so heavie was Christs love 21 Antinomians errours touching the nature of sinne 23 Antinomian errours touching doubtings sorrow for sinne confession c. 23.24 D. Crisps Libertinisme that Paul Rom. 7. personateth the person of a scrupulous man and had no reall cause to sorrow for feare or confesse sinne 24.25 M. Archer in the like errour 25.26 Trouble of unbeliefe for sinne is sinnefull 26 Some fits of the ague of the Spirit of bondage may recurre and trouble a beleever 26.27 Loves-Jelousies and doubting argue faith 27 Doubting may consist with faith 27 Dangerous and unsound positions of Antinomians touching trouble for sinne in the justified 28 Doubtings proveth not a soule to be under a covenant of works 29 The Jewes under the Old Testament justified might be troubled in soule for sinne as we they and we justified by the same grace 29 Trouble for sinne is and ought to be in those who are delivered from obligation to eternall wrath 30.31 No Law-wakening in us by nature 32 How the Saints need joy after sin rather then after affliction 33 Sinne is pardoned otherwise then in removall of obligation to eternall wrath 34 The double dealing of Antinomian Preachers in confession of sinnes in publick their confession being onely in regard of unbeleevers mixed with beleevers 34 A two fold pardon of sinne 1. A relaxation from eternall 2. From
Reasons why our prayers are not ever heard at first 120 We are readier to pray then to praise 121 Christ bottomed his prayer on the sweet relation of a Father and a Sonne 121.122 Sonnes onely can pray ibid. The power of Prayer 123.124 Christs houre-sufferings 125 He suffered in value what we should have suffered ibid. Whence commeth the dignity of Christs suffering 126 Christs losse great from his excellency 127 How Christs sufferings were bounded being infinite ibid. Our debt of love to Christ eternall 128 Our sufferings short ibid. We are not too weary for length of time in sufferings 130.131 Christs death soure and blacke to nature and Christ and why 131.132 Christ sensible of paine and death ibid. Gods anger against Christ. ibid. The personall union not dissolved in suffering 133 Christ bare the whole Crosse and we but chips of it 134 Soules of great value with God not so with us 135.136 Strength of Christs love 137 Death sweetned in Christ. ibid. Christs will subordinate to Gods doubts removed 138 1â—9 Gods revealed will not his decree our rule ibid. A conditionall desire though not agreeable to a positive Law no sinne 140 Rules touching our submission to Gods will 141 Nine considerable objections comfortably answered 142.143.144.145 Thirteene considerable Rules touching submission to Providence 144.145.146.147.148.149.150.151 c. Gods wisdome in creating good and ill 146.147 Afflictions proportioned to every mans measure ibid. The Royall prerogative of providence 152.153 It cannot be counter-wrought 154.155 We dote much on the sweet accidents of Christ and love himselfe too little 155.156 Submission to the absence of God 156.157 Christs returne no merit ibid. The worke of Redemption rationall and full of causes and reasons 158 Afflictions are to bee weighed 1. Who. 2. How 3. For what end 159.160 Blind and dumbe Crosses ibid. Christ willing to suffer 160.161 An agent in his suffering 162 Intended his Spouse ibid. To be active for God and submissive 163.164 The Charters of a right intention in serving God 164.165.166 Christs love tooke strength from difficulties ibid. How the Lords glory is to be sought by us 167.168 Six considerations of errours therein 167.168.169.170 Christ ever heard ibid. Our failings in expecting to bee heard in five considerations 171.172.173 All Christs good and ours from heaven ibid. Easie traffiquing with heaven 173.174 God cleareth a good cause though darkned ibid. The scandall of the Crosse removed 175.176 How the Lord was glorified in Christ. 177.178 Omnipotency maketh glory of any thing 178.179 Mans glory vaine 199. The Gospel darke to us 180 Our understanding affections and heart hereticall in Gods will word and works 181.182.183 Sinne and errour broody truth but one 184 Angels kept fast their birthright 185.186 Seven considerations of conviction 186.187.188 Will-heresie 186 Christ a most publike person as all excellent things and good men are 188.189.190 Christs office warranâ—s us to apply him 190.191 The Saints a mystery ibid. Hopes good prophecying 192.193 Five characters of the World 194.195 This world differenced from the other 196 Judged of Christ 3. waies 197.198 What a Prince the Devill is not in three points ibid. What a Prince he is in foure points and what a Godhead he hath 199.200 Twise judged ibid. Sathans power 1. Naturall 2. Acquired 3. Sinnefull 201.202 seq Ill Angels knew not the incarnation before they fell ibid. They have no Princedome in knowing the thoughts or over free will 203.204 Sathans legall power ibid. To tempt 204.205 What temptation is 205.206.207 Sathans outward power over men 208.209 How God onely not Angels knows the heart and why 209.210.211 Sathans power over the Creatures 212 Over senâ—es and soule 213 How Sathan sinneth yet 214 His punishment 215 2â—6 Sathans knowledge hurt and how ibid. His sadnesse ibid. His faith despaire 216. Obduration 217 Christ his Judge and how 217.218.219 Five observable considerations thereof ibid. State-wit against Christ stark folly 220 Familists vaine opinion of the Devill and sinne 221.222 Sinne against light devillish 222 2â—3 Obduration ibid. Tenne motives to the good fight 2â—4 225 Six points concerning drawing 1. The drawing it selfe 2. The drawer 3. The persons drawne 4. To whom 5. The condition 6. The way and manner Of drawing foure points 1. The expression 2. Reasons moving Christ to draw 3. The manner 4. The power 226.227.228 c. No violence in drawing 2â—8 Our indisposition to be drawne 229.230 We naturally hate Christ. 229 2â—0 231 Will not weakenesse the cause why we are not drawn 232.233 The strength greatnesse freenesse of grace in 6. Positions 233 234. c. The place Ezech. 16.8.9 c. opened in 12 Articles of free love 234.235.236 Christ gracious for no bire 237 238.2â—9 Preparations before conversion in a fourefold consideration 240.241 c. How there be and be no preparations before conversion 240.241 c. How a desire to pray and beleeve is prayer and beliefe how not 242.243 A Royall prerogative in conversion 244 Antinomians objections for immediate beleeving without any preparations or breakings of the soule loosed 245.246.247 c. Saltmarsh his experiences in the Method of conversion tryed and found light 249.250.251 The Antinomian faith presumption 249.250 Fifteene Propositions opening our Doctrine touching preparations 251.252.253 Twelve Assertions against Antinomians in the Doctrine of Preparations 239.240 c. largely Dispositions before renewed drawing of converted soules 260.261 The signes thereof Antinomian confession of sinnes refused 257 How the promises of the Gospel are held forth to sinners as sinners 2â—8 Preparations make us nothing lesse sinners then if wee wanted them 259 The doubt of conditionall Gospel-promises discussed against Antinomians 261.262.263 In five positions 264 â—65 c. What conditions we reject and we admit in the Gospel 261.262.263 Obedience in the Law and Gospel the same and how 263.264 How election justification salvation are of grace but differently 265 The decree of God and mans liberty fight not 266.267 Grace inherent in the Saints 268 Bastard preparations 269 Gods Method in deliverances 269.270 Libertines falsely make Justification and Regeneration one 271.272 How Law and love worke in drawing sinners 272.273 The particular manner of drawing not knowne to us 275.276 Drawing Morall and Physicall 277 278 Inspirations without Scripture rejected 270.271 Christs oratory in drawing strong 280.281 His love in drawing 1. Violent 2. Speedy 3. Vehement 4. Reall 5. Lovely 6. Strong 281.282.283 Drawing by love sweeter and stricter then by Law 283.284 Way of loves working ibid. Binding lovelinesse in Christ. 285.286 Drawing power of Christs Kingdome in many particulars 286 287.288.289 Drawing arguments in Christ from beauty 290.291 What beauty 291.292.293.294.295.296 From gaine 296.297 From Honour ibid. A survey of Christ. 298.299.300 Libertines enemies to grace 300.301 Great things reported of the waies of God 301.302.303 Objections removed 303.304 The Lord draweth by proportion by charming 305.306 By condiscention 306 By internall application 307.308 By externall accommodation of word and providence ibid. In regard of meanes
shall enter into joy at last c. Now all this is but a turning of Faith into wantonnesse whereas Faith of all graces moveth with lowest sayles for Faith is not a lofty and crying but a soft moving and humble grace for then Davids being moved and his heart smiting him at the renting of King Sauls garment should be under a covenant of works and so not a man according to Gods owne heart for a smitten heart is a troubled soule David Abraham Rom. 4. and all the Fathers under the Law were justified by the imputed righteousnesse of Christ apprehended by Faith as we are Rom. 4.23 Now it was not written for Abrahams sake onely that it was imputed to him Vers. 24. But for us also c. David ought not to have been troubled in soule for sinne for his sinnes were then pardoned nor could the Spirit of the Lord so highly commend Josiahs heart-melting trouble at the reading and hearing of the Law nor Christ owne the teares and Soule-trouble of the Woman as comming from no other spring but much love to Christ because many sinnes were pardoned if this Soule-trouble for sinne had argued these to bee under the Law and not in Christ nor can it be said that the Saints of old were more under the Law then now under the Gospel in the sense we have now in hand that is that we are to be lesse troubled for sinne then they because our justification is more perfect and the blood of Christ had lesse power to purge the Conscience and to satisfie the demands of the Law before it was shed then now when it is shed or that more of the Law was naturally in the hearts of David Josiah and the Saints of old and so more naturally unbeliefe must be in them then is in us by nature under Gospel manifestations of Christ. Indeed the Law was a severer Pedagogue to awe the Saints then in regard of the outward dispensation of Ceremonies and Legall strictnesse keeping men as malefactors in close prison till Christ should come But imputation of Christs righteousness and blessedness in the pardon of sinne and so freedome from Soule-trouble for eternall wrath and the Lawes demanding the Conscience to pay what debts none were able to pay but the Surety onely was one and the same to them and to us as Psal. 32.1 2. compared with Rom. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6. and Psal. 14. with Rom. 3.9 10 11 12 13 14.19.20 and Gen. 17.9 cap. 22.18 Deut. 27.26 with Gal. 3.10 11 12 13 14. Heb. 6.13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Who dare say that the beleeving Jewes dyed under the curse of the Law Deut. 27.26 For so they must perish eternally Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse Then there must be none redeemed under the Old Testament nor any justified contrarie to expresse Scriptures Psal. 32.1 â— Rom. 4.1 2 3 4 5 6. Gal. 3.14 Act. 15.11 Acts 11.16 17. Rom. 10.1 2 3. Now Acts 15.11 We beleeve that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we shall be saved as well as they And as they were blessed in that their transgression was forgiven and their sinne covered and that the Lord imputed no iniquity to them Psal. 32.1 2. our blessedness is the same Rom. 4.6 7 8. and Christ as he was made a curse for them so for us that Gal. 3.14 the blessing of Abraham might come on us the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith And God sent forth his Sonne made of a Woman made under the Law for the Jewes who as heires were under Tutors as we are under the Morall Law by nature that we might be redeemed by him That wee who are under the Law might receive the adoption of Sonnes Gal. 4.1 2 3 4. And God gave the like gift to the Gentiles that he gave to the Jewes even repentance unto life Acts 11.16 17. Then the Law could crave them no harder then us and they were no more justiâ—ied by works then we are Yea following righteousnesse they attained it not because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the works of the Law for they stumbled at the stumbling stone that was layed in Sion Rom. 9.31 32 33. And they being ignorant of Gods righteousnesse and going about to establish their owne righteousnesse have not submitted themselves to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10.1 2 3. and so came short of justification by Grace so doe we If then to the justified Jewes There was no Law no transgression and so no trouble for sinne all trouble of Conscience arising from the obligement of the Law as it must bee because they were freed from the curse of the Law and justified in Jesus Christ by his Grace as we are then were they under no smiting of heart nor wounding of Conscience more then we are which is manifestly false in David and in Josiah and many of the Saints under the Old Testament Hence what was sinnefull and unbeleeving Soule-trouble for sinne to them must be sinnefull Soule-trouble to us in the same kind The Law did urge the Jewes harder then us in regard of the Mosaicall burden of Ceremonies and bloody Sacrifices that pointed out their guiltinesse except they should flee to Christ 2. In regard of Gods dispensation of the severer punishing of Law-transgression and that with temporarie punishments and rewarding obedience with externall prosperitie 3. In urging this Doctrine more hardly upon the people to cause them not rest on the letter of the law but seeke to the promised Messiah in whom onely was their righteousnesse as young heires and minors are kept under Tutors while their Non-age expire but 1. Who dare say that the Saints under the Old Testament who lived and dyed in the case of remission of sinnes of salvation and of peace with God Gen. 49.18 Psal. 37.37 Psal. 73.25 Prov. 14.32 Isai. 57.1 2. Hebr. 11.13 Psal. 32.1 2. Micha 7.18 19. Isai. 43.25 Jerem. 50.20 Psalm 31.5 and were undoubtedly blessed in Christ as we are Psal. 119.1 2. Psalm 65.4 Psalm 1.1 2 3. Psal. 144.14 15. Psal. 146.5 Job 5.17 Psalm 84.4 5. and dyed not under the curse of God or were in capacity to be delivered by Christ after this life from the wrath to come and the curse of the Law 2. That they were to trust to the merit of their owne works or seeke righteousnesse in themselves more then we 3. Or that they beleeved not or that their Faith was not counted to them for Righteousnesse as it is with us Gen. 15.5 6. Rom. 4.3 4 5 6 7 8. Psal. 32.1 2. 4. Yea they beleeving in the Messiah to come were no more under the Law and the dominion of sinne then wee are Rom. 6.6 7 8 9. Rom. 7.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. Rom. 8.1 2. Micha 7.18 19. Isai. 43.25 Jer. 50.20 Psal. 32.1 2. but under grace and pardoned and
to pure justice but fire-flashes or flamings of hell on the deserted Saints are medicinall or exploratory corrections though relative to justice and punishments of sin yet is that justice mixed with mercy and exacteth no Law-payment in those afflictions 3. Despaire and blasphemous expostulating and quarrelling divine Justice are the inseparable attendants of the flames and lashings of wrath in reprobates in the godly there is a clearing of justice a submission to God and a silent Psalme of the praise of the glory of this justice in this temporary hell no lesse then there is a new Song of the praise of free grace in the eternall glory of the Saints perfected with the Lamb. Nor should this seem strange that God punisheth the sins of his children with such spirituall plagues of unbeleefe and jealousies and lying mis-judgings of God in their sad desertions more then that the Lord punished the lifted-up heart of Hezekiah with leaving him to fall on his owne weight and Davids idlenesse and security with letting him fall in adultery and Peter's selfe-confidence with a foule denying of his Lord. But it s a sad dispensation when God cleaveth a Saint with a wedge of his own timber and linketh one sinfull mis-judging of God in this feaver of soule-desertion to another and justice seweth in a permissive providence one sin to another to lengthen the chaine if free Grace a linck of Gold did not put a period to the progresse thereof Now wee are not to look at this as an ordinary calamity Job's expressions are very full chap. 6.4 For the arrowes of the Almighty are within me the poyson whereof drinketh up my spirit the terrours of God doe set themselves in aray against me An arrow is a deadly weapon when it s shot by a man or by an Angel but its soft as oyle in comparison of the arrow of the Almighty 1. It s the arrow of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Almighty did frame and mould and whet it in heaven 2. The arrow was dipt in poyson and hath art from hell and divine justice One Devill is stronger then an hoast of men but legions of Devills are mighty strong when such Archers of hell are sent to shoot arrowes that are poysoned with the curse and bloudy indignation of heaven 3. What a sad stroke must it be when the armes of Omnipotency draweth the bow The armes of God can shogge the mountaines and make them tremble and can move the foundation of the earth out of its place and take the globe of heaven and earth and can cast it out of its place more easily then a man casts a slung stone out of his hand When hee putteth forth the strength of Omnipotency against the creature what can the man doe 4. Every arrow is not a drinking arrow the arrowes of divine wrath drinke bloud Suppose a thousand horse-leeches were set on a poore naked man to drink bloud at every part of his body and let them have power and art to suck out the marrow the oyle the sap of life out of bones and joynts say also that one man had in his veins a little sea of bloud and that they were of more then ordinary thirst and power to drink the corpse of the living man as dry as strawes or flaxe what a paine would this be Yea but it were tolerable 5. Arrowes can but drink bloud arrowes are shot against the body the worst they can doe is to drink life out of liver and heart and to pierce the strongest bones but the arrowes of the Almighty are shot against spirits and soules The spirit is a fine subtile immortall thing Isai. 31.3 The horses of Egypt are flesh and not spirit The spirit is a more God-like nature then any thing created of God The Almighty's arrowes kill spirits and soules There 's an arrow that can pierce flesh joynts liver heart bones yea but through the soule also Never an Archer can shoot an arrow at the soule but this the Almighty can doe Say your arrow killed the man yet the soule is saved 6. Many love not their life to death as the Witnesses of Jesus Death is death as clothed with apprehensions of terror no man is wretched actu secundo within and without but hee that beleeveth himselfe to be so here are terrors selfe-terrors Jeremiah could prophesie no harder thing against Pashur The Lord saith hee hath not called thy name Pashur but Magor-missaâ—ib Jer. 20.3 Thou shalt be a terror to thy selfe Compare this with other paines Job would rather chuse strangling or the dark grave and the grave to nature is a sad a black and dreadfull house but a beleever may get beyond the grave What doe the glorified spirits feare a grave now or are they affraid of a coffin and a winding-sheet or of lodging with the wormes and corruption or is burning quick a terror to them No not any of these can run after or over-take them and they know that But selfe-terrors are a hell carried about with the man in his bosome hee cannot run from them Oh! hee lieth down and hell beddeth with him hee sleepeth and hell and hee dreame together he riseth and hell goeth to the fields with him hee goes to his garden there is hell It s observable a Garden is a Paradise by art and Christ was as deep in the agonie and wrestlings of hell for our sins in a garden a place of pleasure as on the crosse a place of torment The man goes to his table O! hee dare not eat hee hath no right to the creature to eat is sin and hell so hell is in every dish To live is sinne hee would faine chuse strangling every act of breathing is sin and hell Hee goes to Church there is a dog as great as a mountaine before his eye Here be terrors But what one or two terrors are not much though too much to a soule spoyled of all comfort 7. The terrors of God God is alwayes in this sad play doe set themselves in battell array against me Or Chap. 16.13 His archers compassed me about round Hebr. his great ones or his bow-men because they are many or because the great ones did fight afarre-off have besieged me So 2 Chron. 17.9 1 Sam. 7.16 Samuel went in a circuit to Bethel and Gilgal and Mispeh And Josh. 6.3 Yee shall besiege Jericho The wrath of God and an army of terrors blocked up poore Job and stormed him Now here be these sore pressures on the soule 1. The poore man cannot look out â—o any creature-comfort or creature-help Say that an Angel from heaven would stand for him or a good conscience would plead comfort to him it should solace him but the man cannot look out nor can hee look up Psal. 40.12 The enmity of God is a sad thing 2. A battell array is not of one man but of many enemies Say the man had one soule it should be his enemy and that hee had a hundred soules hee should
glorious soule-ravishing comforts in seeing the seven golden Candlesticks and the Sonne of man in such glory and majesty Revel 1.12 13 14 15. Yet it appeares to be a dissertion that hee is under when Christ forbiddeth him to feare and when hee must have the hand of Christ laid on his head and when hee falleth down at Christs feet as dead V. 17.18 And when Isaiah saw the glorious vision Chap. 6. The Lord sitting on his throne high and lifted up it must be a throne higher then the heaven of heavens that he siteth on and his traine filling the Temple It 's a dissertion he falleth in vers 5. Then said I woe is me for I am undone because I am a man of uncleane lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seene the King the Lord of Hoasts he was a pardoned man before It 's so with us while the body of sin dwelleth in us that we cannot being old bottles beare new wine and therefore the fulnesse of God breaketh crazie lumps of sinfull flesh and blood as a full tide is preparatorie to a low ebbing and full vessels in the body to a feaver Would Christ in his fulnes of the irradiations of glory breake in upon us he should breake the bodily organs and over-master the soules faculties that all the banks of the soule should be like broken wals hedges or clay channels which the inundation of a river has demolished and carried away from the bottom Flesh and blood is not in a capacitie of over-joy and can hold but little of heaven no more then earth cold beare such a glorious creature as the Sunne we must be both more capacious and wider and stronger vessels before we be made fit to containe glory wee are leaking and running-out vessels to containe grace Manifestations and rays of Divine love are too strong wine that grew up in the higher Canaan for our weake heads Asser. 3. Dissertion commeth under these considerations 1. As it 's a crosse and a punishment of sinne 2. As a triall from meere Divine Dispensation 3. As it 's a sinne on our part full of sinfull mis-representations of Christ. In the first consideration wee are to submit to any penall over-clowding of Christ 1. Because the eye cannot water to looke on any Crosse of Christ where Faiths aspect goeth before and saith Though I sit in darkenesse yet I shall see light 2. There is required a sort of patience under sinne as ' its either a punishment of an other sinne as David was submissive to the sinfull railing of Shimei and the wicked treasons and incestuous pollutions of his Concubines by his son Absolom Or as sinne dwelleth in us and in Divine Dispensation must be our Crosse as well as our sinne we are to bee grieved at our sinnes as they crosse Gods holy will but as they are our owne crosses and thwart our owne desires and now are committed by us or dwell in us we are not to bite at and utter heart-raylings against Divine providence who might have prevented and efficaciously hindred these sinnes and yet did not hinder them 3. This Dispensation should be adored as a part of Divine wisdome that broken soules are not wholly cured till they be in heaven Sinne is a dis-union from God Jesus doth not so compleatly soder the soule to God but the seame hath holes and gapings in it by reason of the in-dwellings of sinne Rom. 7.17.18.19.22.23 And since Libertines will confound Justification with Regeneration we say ther Justification they speak off is never perfected in this life And because sinne as sin which remaineth in our flesh must make God and the soule at a distance there cannot be such perfect peace as excudeth all soule-trouble the blew scarre of the wound remaineth so and the dreggs of that domestick falling-ill that we have of our first house of Adam are so sâ—ated in us that as some diseases recurre and some paine of the head when an East-wind bloweth so the disease wee have in our head the first Adam sticketh to us all our life and when temptations blow wee find the relicts of our disease working and foaming out the smell of the lees and sent that remaineth Christ has need to perfume our ill odours with his merits for our begun Sanctification is so unperfect as that yet our water smelles of the rotten vessell the flesh and we cannot but have our ill houres and our sicke daies and so a disposition to sinful dissertions 4. Unbeliefe naturally stocked in the body of sin is humerous and ill minded to Christ there is a lyar in our house and a slanderer of Christ that upon light occasions can raise an ill fame of Christ That he is a hard man and gathers where he did not sow that Christ is nice and dainty of his love that he is too fine too excellent and majestick to condiscend to love me and take this as the mother-seed of all sinnefull desertions to blame Christs sweet inclination to love us as well as his love I knew thou wast a hard man it 's dangerous to have ill thoughts of Christs nature his constitution actu primo The next will bee to censure his waies his saveing and his gathering which I take to bee the currant objection of old Pelagians and late Arminius O he must gather where he did never sow if he command all to beleeve under the paine of damnation and yet he judicially in Adam removed all power of beleeving so hee putteth out the poore mans eyes and cutteth off his two leggs and commandeth him to see with no eyes and walke with no leggs under paine of damnation men beleeve not they hate Christ by nature and hatred hath an eye to see no colour in Christ but blacknesse as the instance of the Pharisees doth cleare who saw but devilry in the fairest works of Christ even in his casting out of Devils Asser. 4. Dissertions on the Lords part are so often meere trials as we may not thinke they are greatest sinners who are most disserted Dissertion smelleth more of Heaven and of Christ disserted for our sinnes then of any other thing it 's the disease that followes the Royall seed and the Kings blood it 's incident to the most heavenly spirits Moses David Heman Asaph Ezechiah Job Jeremiah the Church Psal. 102. Lament chap. 1. chap. 2.3.4 it is oare that adhereth to the choisest gold But how is it say some that you read of so little soule-dissertion in the Apostles and Beleevers under the New-Testament and so much of it under the Old-Testament Is it not because it belongeth to the Law and the Covenant of Works and to the Spirit of the Old Testament and nothing to the Gospel of Grace So Antinomians dreame I answer We read indeed of heavier and stronger externall pressures laid on men to chase them to Christ under the Law then under the Gospel Because the Gospel
clay in our water but because good works are not our Saviours it s no good ground to say they have no influence in the way of our salvation and they are not way-marks in our journey because they are no part of the ransome that bought heaven Wee have a grand opinion of our owne righteousnesse and when wee misse it wee think wee misse Christ himselfe which is a great mis-judging and argueth a beleeving in our selves not in Christ. And often soule-trouble ariseth from defects omissions and sinnes in our selves If simple griefe for sin as offensive to love arise that 's good soule-trouble but such soule-trouble as shaketh the bottome of faith and turneth the soule off Christ to seek righteousnesse in it self is damnable as it 's hard for an unregenerate man to see sinne in it's dreadfullest colours and not despaire so it 's hard for a regenerate person to see sinne as sinne and not to fall on unbeliefe and doubting of Christs love Antinomians thinke any anxiety for sinne which expelleth actuall rejoycing in Christ our turning off Christ and our casting of the conscience againe under the Spirit of bondage and worke of the Law Which is contrary to truth and the command of James to be afflicted and mourne and Christs saying Blessed are they that mourne for they shall be comforted and Peter who saith there may be need that the Saints be in heavinesse for a season It 's a great point of wisdome 1. to know how farre forth our spirituall walking may be a seed of comfort we may easily erre on either hands 2. The Logick would bee humble Lord I am not hauty Ergo I am comforted in thee Paul saith well I know nothing by my selfe yet am I not hereby justified we would not build a Towre on a Moale-hill 3. From our sinnefull walking we may draw grounds of godly sorrow yet not grounds of unbeliefe Faith and Godly sorrow are consistent together 4. It 's not safe to argue that wee are not in Christ from the wants adhering to our sincere performances While we slander our selves we may slander the Spirit of God 5. The measure of our obedience cannot bee a warrant to counter-argue Christ as want is no warrant to stand farre off from Christ no more then it 's good Logicke to flee from the fire because you are cold or to bee at odds with gold because you are needy and poore poverty may conclude a sayling with low sayles and humility but not unbeliefe your want of all things should not empty rich Jesus Christ. 7. Absence of Christ mis-apprehended through unbeliefe occasioneth soul-trouble In which there is something which evidenceth saving grace in the troubled soule as is afore said For the want of the thing loved cannot but here be a gracious torment to the lover The Spouse is sicke and dyeth when she wanterh him whom her soule loveth Cant. 2.5 chap. 5. vers 6 8. David so expresseth himselfe Psalm 84.2 My soule longeth yea even fainteth or dyeth or is at an end for the Courts of the Lord my flesh and my heart cryeth out for the living God The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to desire or to bee consumed or to make an end of any thing Davids desire of injoying God was such as it was his death to want God it may hold forth as Pagnine observeth that Davids soule either extremely desired the Lord or dyed upon the absence of God But to be anxiously troubled in an unbeleeving manner is the sinnefull soule-trouble Why doth the soule doubt of Christs Winter more then of his Summer Absence and presence his comming and his departing are both his owne workes God hath liberty in the one as in the other as it is Gods liberty to make faire weather and stormes to make a faire day and a cloudy day To make David a King and his brethren shepherds and common souldiers so hath he his own freedome in the breathings of his owne Spirit and the blowing of his own winde or of the drawing a curtaine over his owne face and hiding himselfe and neither in this nor in any of his waies of freedome can we challenge the Lord or plead against him And if we thinke we doe well to be angry even to the death at the motions and breathings of Christs free love then may we compel Christ to be kind and visit us as we think good What ever yee be Christ is Lord of his owne presence and visits and it 's good the Kings Chamber of presence be a Dainty and Christs wine bee not so common as water nor can wee here force kindnesse or acts of heavenly manifestations on him he hides himselfe Why he is as reasonable and wise in his going as in his comming 2. We should take on us to steward and husband the kisses and embracements of Christ better then he can doe himselfe and should quarrell because the Lord hath not thought fit to make Heires and Minors that are yet under Non-age Masters and Lords of their owne young heaven this were not a good world for us Christs love is better then wine Cant. 1. Neither our head nor our heart could endure to drinke at our own will of this new wine of the higher Kingdome Better for us it is that Christ beare the key of the Well of life then children have it and if the Government of the higher and lower familie bee upon the shoulders of Christ the leading of this or that single person to heaven is worthy Christs care 3. And consider that Christ goeth not behind the mountaine or hideth himselfe upon meere hazard but so weighty reasons that love may bee sharpened through absence that the house may be adorned with new Hangings and Christs bedde made greene that care may bee had when he resteth in his love not to stirre up nor awake the beloved untill he please that the high Tydes and rich Feasts of Christs love after sad and heavy desertions may heighten the worth and esteeme of Christ that faith and love may with more of the violence of ven lay hold on Christ after long seeking and not part with him on so easie termes Cant. 3.1 2 3 4. that we may know what weakenesse is in our owne clay legs under desertion and how we are to walke on Christs legges which are pillars of marble set on sockets of gold that absence and presence the frownings and smilings of Christ may bee to the Saints the little images of hell and heaven and broken men may read their debâ—s in Christs count-booke of free grace with teares in their eyes and songs of praise in their mouth That wee may bee in high love and sicke for absent Christ and may be at the pains through thicke and thin to seeke him And lâ—arne to live lesse by sense and more by faith and resolve to die beleeving and be charitable of Christ absent and kisse his veile when we can see no more and be upon our watch-towre
when that faileth them and they dare not pray to God they petition hills and mountaines to be graves above them to bury such lumps of wrath quicke Revel 6. 2. I defie any man with all his art to be an Hypocrite and to play the Politician in hell at the last judgement in the houre of death or when the conscience is wakened A robber doth never mocke the Law and Justice at the Gallowes what ever he doe in the woods and mountaines Men doe cry and weep and confesse sinnes right downe and in sad earnests when Conscience speaketh out wrath there is no mind then of Fig-leave-coverings or of colours veiles masks or excuses 3. Conscience is a peece of eternity a chip that fâ—ll from a Deity and the neerest shaddow of God and endeth as it begins At first even by it's naturall constitution Conscience warreth against Concupiscence and speaketh sadly out of Adam while it is hot and not cold-dead I was afraid hearing thy voice I hid my selfe and this it doth Rom. 1.19 chap. 2.15 While lusts buy and bribe conscience out of office then it cooperateth with sinne and becommeth dead in the end when God shaketh an eternall rod over conscience then it gathereth warme bloud againe as it had in Adams daies and hath a resurrection from death and speaketh gravely and terribly without going about the bush O how ponderous and heavy How farre from tergiversation cloakings and shifting are the words that dying Atheists utter of the deceitfulnesse of sinne the vanitie of the World the terrours of God Was not Judas in sad earnest did Saul speake policie when he weepeth on the Witch and saith I am sore distressed Did Spira dissemble and sport when he roared like a Beare against divine wrath What shall I say This saith that Christ answering for our sinnes had nothing to say The sufferer of Satisfactorie paine has no words of Apologie for sinne The friend that was to bee cast in utter darknes for comming to the Supper of the great King without his wedding Garment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his mouth was muzled as the mouth of a mad dog he was speechlesse and could not barke when Divine justice speaketh out of God Job chap. 40. answereth ver 4. Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand on my mouth When the Church findeth justice pleading against her It 's thus Ezech. 16.63 That thou mayest remember thy sinnes and be confounded and there may bee no more an openining of a mouth because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord. I grant satisfactory justice doth not here put men to silence but it proveth how little we can answer for sinne Even David remembring that Shimei and other Instruments had deservedly afflicted him in relation to Divine justice saith Psalm 39.9 I was dumbe I opened not my mouth because thou didst it There were three demands of justice given in against Christ all which hee answered Justice put it home upon Christ. 1. All the elect have sinned and by the law are under eternall wrath To this claime our Advocate and Suretie could say nothing on the contrary It 's true Lord. Christ doth satisfie the Law but not contradict it The very word of the Gospel answereth all these In this regard Christs silence was an answer and to this Christ said What shall I say I have nothing to say 2. Thou art the sinner in Law to this Christ answered A body thou hast given me The Sonne of man came not to be served but to serve and to give himselfe a ransome for many Matth. 20.28 The whole Gospel saith Christ who knew no sinne was made sinne for us 3. Thou must die for sinners This was the third demand and Christ answereth it Psal. 40. Hebr. 10. Thou hast given me a body here am I to doe thy will To all these three Christ answered with silence and though in regard of his patience to men it be said Esai 53.7 Hee was brought as a Lambe to the slaughter and as a sheepe before the shearer is dumbe so he opened not his mouth Yet it was most true in relation to Divine justice and the Spirit of God hath a higher respect to Christs silence which was a wonder to Pilate before the bar of Gods justice O could we by faith see God giving in a black and sad claime a bill written within and without in which are all the sinnes of all the elect from Adam to the last man and Christ with watery eyes receiving the claime and saying Lord It 's just debt crave me what shall I say on the contrary We should be more bold not barely to name our sinnes and tell them over to God but to confesse them and study more for the answer of a good Conscience by faith to substitute an Advocate to answer the demands of Justice for our sinnes and if men beleeved that Christ as suretie satisfieing for their sinnes could say nothing on the contrary but granted all they should not make excuses and shifts either to wipe their mouth with the whoore and say I have not sinned nor be witty to make distinctions and shifts and excuses to cover mince and extenuate their sinnes Father save me from this houre The fourth part of this complaint is an answer that Faith maketh to Christs question What shall I say What shall I doe Say praying wise saith Faith Father save me from this houre A word of the Coherence then of the words Wee often dreame that in trouble helpe is beyond Sea and farre off as farre as heaven is from earth When help is at our elbow and if the Spirit of Adoption bee within the prisoner hath the Key of his owne Jayle within in his owne hand God was in Christs bosome when he was in a stormy Sea and the light of Faith saith behold the shore at hand Death taketh feet and power of motion from a man but Psal. 23.4 yet Faith maketh a supposition that David may walke and live breathe in the grave in the valley of the shaddow of death It 's the worke of Faith to keep the heate of life in the warme bloud even among clods of clay when the man is buried This anxious condition Christ was in as other straits are to the Saints is a strait and narrow passe there was no help for him on the right hand nor on the left nor before nor behind nor below Christ as David his type Psal. 141.4 Looked round about but refuge failed him no man cared for his soule but there was a way of escape above him it was a faire easie way to heaven The Church was in great danger and trouble of warre and desolation when shee spake to God Psalm 46. Yet their faith seeing him to bee very neere them God is our refuge and strength true he can save saith sense but that is a fowle flying in the woods and
Christ with groanings and sadnesse of Spirit even before his last sufferings so the interruption for a time of the actuall vision of God might stand with Christs personall happinesse as God-man 2. If we suppose there were just reasons why God should command that Angels and glorified Spirits should not actually see God for a time there were no repugnancy in this to their true blessednesse so it fell not out through their sinnes no more then the Sunne should lose any of its nature if wee suppose God should command it to stand still and to be covered with darkenesse many dayes as in Joshuahs time it stood still in the firmament some houres and for a time was covered with darkeness at the suffering of Christ. What an enterposed cloud of covering it was or what a skreene did interrupt the flux of the beames and rayes of the Godhead from actuall irradiation on the soule and faculties and powers of the soule of the man Christ is more then I can determine Certaine it is God was with the Manhood and so neere as to make one person but there was no actuall shining on the powers of the soule no heate and warmnesse of joy but as if his owne infinite Sea of comfort were dryed up he needed a drop of the borrowed comfort of an Angel from heaven Now whether this Angel Luk. 22.43 did wipe the sweat of bloud off his holy body and really serve him that way or if the Angel was sent with good words from the Father to comfort him and say to this sense O glorious Lord courage peace and joy and salvation shall come thy Father has not forsaken thee utterly it cannot be knowne but Luke saith an Angel appeared from heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strengthning him But it was admirable that the Lord of all consolation should stand in need of consolation and a good word from his owne creature or that the great Lord the Law-giver should need the comfort of Prayer or any Ordinance O what a providence what a world is this that God-man sweet Jesus is put to his knees and his prayers with it Come see the Lord of life at a weake passe he is at God helpe me at Teares and sighing God save me This is more then if the whole light of the Sunne were extinguished and it behoved to borrow light from a candle on earth and the whole Sea and Rivers dryed up and they behoved to begge some drops of dew from the clouds to supply their want 2. Christ himselfe refused comfort to himselfe There was a sea of joy in Christ within him but not one drop can issue out on the powers of his soule joy is sad fairenesse black faith feareth and trembleth the infinite All lieth under the drop of the comfort of a creature-nothing Riches beggeth at poverty 's doore the light is dark greennesse withereth and casteth the bloome life maketh prayers against the death of deaths the glory and flower of heaven standeth sad and heavie at the jawes and mouth of hell 3. Mat. 26. Hee prayed to this sense falne on his face to the earth once O my Father remove this cup but hee is not answered Hee knocketh the second time O my Father if it be possible remove this cup. O but here 's a hard world the substantiall Sonne of God knocking and lying on his face on the earth and his Father's doore of glory fast bolted the Sonne cannot get in The like of this providence you never read nor heare of The naturall Son of God cryeth with teares and strong cryes with a sad heavie and low Spirit to his Father hee cannot get one word from heaven nor halfe a glympse of the wonted glory that was naturall and due to him as God O rare and sad dispensation He must cry the third time O my Father remove this cup. We storme â—f the Lord doe not open his doore at the first knock O what hard thoughts have some of God if a floud of love issue not from his face at the first word but the Lords Saints are not to look for a providence of the honey drops of the fattest consolations of heaven in every ordinance of prayer and praises O what a sad administration Psal. 22.2 O my God I cry in the day time and thou hearest not and in the night season and am not silent The Church speaketh sadly to God What can be worse then this Lam. 3.7 Hee hath hedged me about that I cannot get out hee hath made my chaine heavie Yet to open a sad heart in the bosome of a friend farre more to God is much ease but here is worse Vers. 8. Also when I cry and shout hee shutteth out my prayer Psal. 69.3 I am weary of crying my throat is dryed mine eyes faile while I wait for my God It is grace to put a construction of love and faith on the Lord 's not answering our desires These experiences may silence us 1. It may be good that the Lord answer and not good that hee answer now The Saints are often ripe for praying when they are unripe for the mercy of a reall answer and help from God Two things necessitate prayer 1. Our duty to worship 2. Our necessity and straits But on our part wee are not ripe for an answer for any of these being yet not humbled and praying with slow desires little fervour of faith 2. It s possible it be our duty to pray as supposing a reall necessity of what wee need and yet it is not our good that God heare us now No doubt Abraham and Sarah both prayed for a son many years before the one was an hundred the other ninety and nine years old but it was not good that God should heare them till it be a miracle and a new way and more then ordinary providence they were answered 3. God refuseth never to heare us for favours that are non-fundamentalls toward everlasting life but when it s better be not heard then heard Moses might possibly not know a reason but it was better for him that he saw afarre-off the good land more for faith and mortification and heavenly mindednesse which hee saw not then that hee should enter with the people into that land which hee prayed for 4. Not any of the Saints considering that all things worke together for good to them that love God but as they praise God that hee hath heard their prayers so they praise God in some things that their prayers lie at a fast bolted doore and take it well in other things that hee was displeased with them and so that they have cause to be humbled that God did grant their desire Let it be that David prayed for a sonne and God gave him Absalom it s a question if David had not cause to wish hee had never been born 5. God hath equally regulated and limited our desires to be heard and our willingnesse faith submission and patience and our praises according as
hoasts came against Christ Heaven Hell Earth any Adversary but God the enimity of men cannot make me or any man formally miserable There be great edges and Emphasis in these words My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Not a point not a letter of them can be wanting they are so full and Emphatick 1. My God my God the forsaking of Angels is nothing that Men all men friends all my inward friends forsake me is not much they doe more then forsake they abhorre Job their friend Job 19.19 that father and mother and all my mothers sonnes forsake me is hard yet tollerable Psal. 27.10 Psal. 31.11 Psal. 88.18 Yea that mine own heart and flesh forsake me is an ordinary may bee amongst men Psal. 73.26 But Gods forsaking of a man is sad 2. If he bee a God in covenant with me both God and then my God that is a warme word with childe of love if he forsake me it is hard When our owne leave us we forgive all the world to leave us 3. In forsaking there is a great Emphasis any thing but unkindnesse and change of heart and Love is well taken this speaketh against Faith though Christ could not apprehend this the Lord cannot change Christs could not beleeve such a blasphemy yet the extremity of so sad a condition offered so much to the humane and sinnelesse and innocent sense of Christ a change of dispensation 4. Me Why hast thou forsaken me the sonne of thy love thy onely begotten Sonne the Lord of glory who never offended thee but the relation of Christ to God was admirable hee was as the sinner made sinne for us in this contest the enimity of a Lyon and a Leopard is nothing Hos. 13.7.8 the renting of the caule of the webbe that goeth about the heart is but a shaddow of paine to the Lords running on a man as a Giant in furie and indignation 2. Hell and all the powers of darkenesse came against Christ in this houre Col. 2.14 15. 3. All the earth and his dearest friends stood aloofe from his calamity there was no shoare on earth to receive this ship-broken man In regard of that which was taken from Christ it was a sad houre which I desire to be considered thus 1. The most spirituall life that ever was the life of him who saw and enjoyed God in a personall union was vailed and covered 1. Possession in many degrees was lessened but in jure in right and in the foundation not removed 2. The sense and actuall fruition of God in vision was over-clouded but life in the fountaine stood safe in the blessed union 3. The most direfull effects in breaking bruising and grinding the Sonne of God betweene the millstones of Divine wrath were heere Yet the infinite love and heart of God remained the same to Christ without any shaddow of variation or change Gods hand was against Christ his heart was for him 4. Hence his saddest sufferings were by divine dispensation and oeconomy God could not hate the Son of his love in a free dispensation he persued in wrath the surety and loved the Sonne of God 5. It cannot bee determined what that wall of separation that covering and vaile was that went between the two united natures the union personall still remaining intire how the God-head suspended its divine and soule-rejoycing influence and the man Christ suffered to the bottome of the highest and deepest paine to the full satisfaction of divine justice As it is easie to conceive how the body in death falleth to dust and ill smelling clay and yet the soule dieth not but how the soule suffereth not and is not sadned is another thing How a Bird is not killed and doth flee out and escape and sing when a window is broken with a great noise in the cage is conceivable but how the bird should not suffer or be affected with no affrightment is harder to our apprehension and how ship-broken men may swime to the shoare and live when the shippe is dashed in an hundreth pieces is nothing hard but that they should be nothing affrighted not touch the water and yet come living to shoare is not so obvious to our consideration Yea that the soule should remaine united with the body in death and the Ship sinke the passengers remaining in the ship and not bee drowned is a strange thing The Lord suffered and dyed the Ship was broken and did sinke the soule and body seperated and yet the God-head remained in a personall uinion one with the Man-hood as our soule and body remaine together while we live and subsist entire persons Vse 1. Christ hath suffered much in these sad houres for us hee hath drunken Hell drie to the bottome and hath left no Hell behind for us Heb. 12.2 Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith he hath not onely suffered so much of the Crosse but he hath suffered all the crosse he hath endured the crosse despised shame In the originall the words are without any Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is as much as he hath left no crosse no shame at all to be suffered by us and Phil. 2.8 He was obedient to the Father he saith not to the death but to death even death of the Crosse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It holdeth forth to us that Christ suffered so much for us as hee hath taken up to heaven with him the great Crosse and hath carried up with him as it were the great death and hath left us nothing or very little to suffer and indeed Christ never denyed but affirmed he himselfe behoved to dye but for the beleever he expressely denieth hee shall dye and that with two negations Joh. 11.26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He shall never in any sort dye and for our sufferings Paul calleth them Col. 1.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the remnants the leavings the dregs and after-drops of the sufferings of Christ the sips and dew-drops remaining in the bottom of the cup when Christ hath drunken out the whole cup so are our affections and being compared with what Christ suffered they are but bitts fragments and small pieces of death that we suffer for the first death that the Saints suffer is but the halfe and the farre least halfe of death it s but the lips the outer porch of death the second death which Christ suffered for us is onely death and the dominion Lordship and power of death is removed Why doe you then murmur fret repine under aflictions when you beare little wedges pinnes and chips of the Crosse Your Lord Jesus did beare for you the great and onely Crosse that which is death shame and the Crosse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by way of excellencie so called It is true the Spouse of Christ since the beginning of the world and since Christs time these 1600. Yeares hath been crying as a woman travelling in birth of a Man-childe and the Dragon neare persuing her and is not yet
when England had often before and have now opportunity they will not lift Christ up on his throne nor put his Crowne Royall on his head but doe put it on their owne head but the judgement is not yet at an end Scotland hath not walked worthy of the Gospel but have fallen from their first love We take not a deliberate list of every limbe thigh legge and member of this nationall wrath and we neither see wherefore we are afflicted nor how For this cause came I to this houre There is some peculiar act of Christs will here holden forth and that is Christs peculiar intention to die for his people in which we are to consider the activenesse of Christs will in dying for man which may be seene 1. In his free offering of himselfe and his service to the Father Psalm 40.6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire mine eares hast thou opened Heb. 10.5 A body that is the office house and instrumentall subject of obedience to the death as the eare is of hearing and obeying the commandements of God thou hast prepared me Vers. 7. Then said I loe I come in the volumne of thy booke it is written of me to doe thy will ô God In these words Christ is brought in as a servant with three excellent quallities 1. Physically he is fitted with a body and a soule to offer to God for us as in a servant there are required strong limbs and armes to endure drudgery in this he was borne of his mother for this sad service his Master furnished him for this even the seed of mans flesh and bloud for suffering 2. There were morall habilities in him promptitude of of will So the Lord is brought in as a Lord and Master in justice crying servant O Sonne and servant Jesus I have a businesse for thee of great concernment At the first word as all good servants doe Christ takes him to his feet and compeares before his God his Master and Lord Loe I come here am I so servants of old answered their Master What service wilt thou command so hard which I will not undergoe Master here 's a body for thy worke here be cheekes for the nippers a face for those that will plucke off the haire a backe for smiting a body for the crosse and the grave Christ as a servant uncovered standing on feet would say Lord send mee thy seruant to the Garden to worke under the burden of thy wrath till I sweat blood bid me goe to shame to scourging and spitting is it thy will I goe up on the cursed crosse and bee made a curse for sinners that I be crucified and die that I goe lower in to the utter halfe of hell the grave which is a sad journey loe here am I willing to obey all 3. There was in Christ not onely willingnesse but delight Psal. 40.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My God I delight to doe thy will every servant cannot say this to his Master thy Law is in the midst of my heart 2. His willingnesse to die was a part of his Testament and last Will he dyed with good will and left in Legacy his death and the fruits of it his blessing his heart his love his peace his life to his bride in Testament confirmed by Law to all his poore brethren and friends Heb. 9 17. and John 14.27 Peace I leave in testament with you But the Orphane and the poore friend gets not all that his dying Father and friend leaves in Testament but Christ gives possession himselfe ere he die My peace I give to you but to the point His latter Will was willingnesse to die 3. No externall force could take his life from him against his will John 10.18 No man taketh my life from me but I lay it downe of my selfe I have power to lay it downe and I have power to take it againe Yet lest it should seeme a will-action in Christ and â—o not obedience he addeth This Commandement that is the will of a Superiour have I received of my Father Compelled obedience is no obedience exact willingnesse was a substantiall and essentiall ingredient in Christs obedience Acts of Grace cannot be extorted can yee teare a shoure of raine from God in an extreame drouth or bread from him in your hunger against his will Farre lesse since Christs dying was an act of pure grace can any compell him to dye for man Love arrested his holy will and that made him runne apace to dye for us O blessed be his good will who burned himselfe in the Bush in a fire of free love 4. Though dying be a passion yet Christs dying was both a passion and an action Will added as much perfume and strength of obedience as nature and paine shard-ship shame and abasement could doe his life was not so much plucked from him as out of his owne hand As an Agent he offered his bloud and soule yea himselfe to God through the eternall Spirit Hebr. 9.14 Love was the coard the chaine that did bind Christ to the Altar 5. Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on this intention came to this houre so is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 often in Scripture Not onely his will but the floure of his will his intention was to die for Christs eye and his heart and his love was on his Bride the intention is the most eminent act that Love can put forth Christs eye and his heart being upon his Spouse he made our salvation his end and measure of his love to compasse this end the Lord laid many Oares in the water his rising earely his night watching his toyling his sweating his soare and hard Soule-travell as being heavy with Child of this end O might I have a redeemed people was all his care and his soule was eased when dying bleeding crying he went thorough hell and death and slept in deaths blacke and cold prison and his Redeemed ones in his armes When hee came to the end of this sad journey and found his Ramsomed ones he said I have sought you with a heavie heart faire and foule way sad and weary and all is well bestowed since I have gained you Let us up together to the hill of Spices to our Fathers house to the highest mountaine of Frankincense All that Christ did was for this end That he might deliver us from this present evill world Galat. 1.4 That he might be a ransome for many Matth. 20.28 That we might have life and have it more abundantly Joh. 10.10 That he might seeke and save the lost Luke 19.10 That he might present his wife a glorious Church to himselfe not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that she should bee holy and without blemish Ephes. 5.26 27. that wee being dead to sinne should live to righteousnesse 1 Pet. 2.24 Christ came to seeke and travelled ever till he found his desire a redeemed and saved people and then hee rested Even as hee journyed through
all the Creation but till he found man a creature that he made according to his owne image hee had no Sabbath no rest His willingnesse to die respected his redeemed people whom out of meere mercy he loved and the worth of will and merit respected infinite justice which hee exactly satisfied Hence we learne 1. To imitate and follow our patterne Christ in voluntary obedience delighting to doe Gods will and to suffer Gods will It s said of Christ Hebr. 5.8 Though hee were a Sonne yet learned he obedience through suffering Hee was the excellentest Scholler among all his Schoole-fellowes and yet the rod of God was heaviest and most frequent on him he learned his Lesson beyond them all He was quick in understanding in the feare of the Lord Esai 11.3 He had in him an excellent Spirit The Spirit of Wisdome of Counsell of Knowledge and of the Feare of the Lord And was holy and obedient to the death the death of the Crosse. It s much to learn to be active for God but more to learne to be passive That is a profound science Phil. 4.12 I know how to be abased I am instructed to be hungry and to suffer need It 's the singular art of Grace to know how to love feare and obey God under death paine and hell It is a high lesson to learne the Mystery of that deepe Science of hunger want suffering stripes and torment and death for Christ. This is high Hebr. 10.34 Yee tooke patiently the spoiling of your goods knowing that in heaven ye have a better and more enduring substance They are but accidents wee have heere and these very separable Heaven is all substance Our obedience passive is not willing it s constrained We might by Grace turne clay into gold hell into heaven if we could looke in faith and patience on the persecution and reproaches of men as on the brutish and irrationall motion of a staffe or an axe that beates and cuts us suppose we knew no hand under God that wronged us hee curseth because the Lord hath bidden him For the freedome of Christs kingdome and the right government of his house and for opposing blasphemies and reproaching of Christ his Word Scripture Ordinances We are killed all the day long and counted the off-sâ—ourings of men could wee over-looke unthankfulnesse malice wickednesse persecution from men whom wee with our lives and bloud have redeemed from persecution and behold the highest Mover and first Wheele that moveth all under wheeles as if God onely were our party who humbles us that wee may be humbled then should wee be silent and our hearts should not rise at the exorbitances of men There is too much of nature in our sufferings too little submissive willingnesse The more action of a sanctified will in our sufferings it s the more acceptable and cometh nearest to Christ who did both runne for the Crown and was active and endured the Crosse and was most passive in an heavenly manner Heb. 12. 2. Let us learne of Christ to intend obedience to put a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to our obedience Many heare the word but they intend not to heare many pray and intend not to pray many die in these warres for Christ but intend not to spend their life for Christ The holy and cleane cause of God cometh through many dirty and foule fingers This is the deep art of Providence Quest. What is a right and straight intention in serving God Asser. 1. When the deliberation of a bended will concurres with the intention its right as when there is an heart-conclusion for God Psal. 39.1 I said I will take heed to my wayes that I offend not with my tongue Psal. 31.14 But I trusted in the Lord I said Thou art my God Psal. 102.24 I said O my God take me not away in the midst of my dayes This was an intended prayer Psal. 119.57 I have said that I would keep thy words Asser. 2. The Saints are not so perfect in their intentions as God is their onely end 1. Because a piece of our selfe is mixed with our end there is some crook in our straightest line an angle in our perfectest circle when wee run most swiftly because of the in-dwelling of corruption we halt a little 2. Self-deniall is not perfect in this life Asser. 3. It s good when God is so pre-conceived in the intention as the principall actions and motions both have being and denomination from their predominant element Hony is is hony though not pure from wax A bâ—leever is not a simple element nor all grace and all sincerity Now in bodies carried with a predominant element the predominant is affirmed the subordinate denyed 1 Cor. 15.10 Yet not I but the grace of God with me 2 Cor. 4.5 For wee preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Christs sake Where Christ is the predominant element he is of weight to sway the whole soule in its motion And its right-down sincerity whatever Crispe with Papists say on the contrary though it require some graines of allowance to make it passe Asser. 4. Where Selfe is the predominant the intention is bastard and adulterate Jehu saith Come see my zeale for the Lord but hee onely saith it Hee could have said Come see my zeale for my selfe In the Jewes zeale Rom. 10.1 there 's a pound of selfe-righteousnesse for one halfe graine of Christ and of free-grace therefore it s not the right zeale of God Asser. 5. There be two characters of an intended end which are also here 1. All that the agent doth hee referreth to his end for his end is his God The wretch doth all in reference to gold that is his end And Joab did all for Court and honour for the chiefe end is the mans Master and useth a lord-ship over him Christ is so mighty through God that hee darkens the Scribes and Pharisees light because their end lieth in the fat womb of the world and it is gaine and glory all they doe is to make Christ out of the way So when the beleever sailes all winds rolleth every stone presseth all meanes for Christ as his end and his weight then stirres hee to the right port Christs love hath a dominion over lord-will One Adamant will cut another the sinner is a rock Christs love an Adamant Christs love setting on the wills intention burnes the soule to the bone Mary Magdalen cannot sleep and it s a ticklesome game where the heart is at the stake and Christ shee must have Apostles Angels Christ himselfe shall heare of it ere shee want him And the rougher and harder the meanes be when under-taken for Christ Christ must be a stronger and more love-working end When torment and burning quick are chosen for Christ its like hee is the end for love over-comes a rough and dangerous journey A sweet and desirable home is above a dirty and thorny way
though darkened to shine as day-light if men would open their eyes and see Psal. â—7 5 Roll over thy way upon the Lord and trust in him and hee shall bring it to passe But flesh and bloud saith Innocencie lieth in the dark and weepeth in sack-cloth in the dungeon and is not seen The Lord answereth Vers. 6. And hee shall bring forth thy righteousnesse as the light and thy judgement as the noon-day It is true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to goe from one place to another it s here applied to the sun and elsewhere to things that grow out of the earth Judg. 13.14 The sun in the night seems dead and lost as if there were no such thing yet the morning is a new life to the day and the sunne The grape of the wine tree sowne in the earth is a dead thing yet it springeth in some dayes and cometh to be a fruitfull tree Christ was crucified and buried yet the Wine-tree grew againe and Rom. 1.4 Hee was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead The Gospel and a good cause seems buried and weeps in a dungeon Joseph in the prison and a sold stranger yet in the eyes of his brethren hee is exalted The Lord cleared Daniels cause Psal. 97.11 Light is sowne for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart The light and joy of the Saints are often under the clods of the earth 1. The Reformation of Religion goes vailed under the mask of Rebellion and of subverting Fundamentall Lawes but God must give to this work that is now on the wheels in Britain the right name and call it The building of the old waste places The rearing up of the Tabernacle of David and cause it come above the earth 2. The crosse is that great stumbling block for which many are offended at Christ and the Gospel It is a sad and offensive Providence to see joy weep glory shamed this is the gall the worm-wood the salt of the crosse that the Lord of life should suffer in his owne person yet here is heaven and the Father speaking and returning a comfortable answer to Christ in that which hee most feared The crosse maketh an ill report of the Gospel and Christ for this the Apostles are made a theatre a gasing-stock to Men and Angels a worlds wonder and Paul would take this away Ephes. 3.13 Wherefore I desire that yee faint not at my tribulation Then Saints may fall a swooning at the very sight of the crosse in others And Peter 1 Pet. 4.12 saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not stricken with wonders or astonished as at new things and miracles Acts 17.20 when yee are put to a fiery triall The comforts of the crosse are the sweet of it and the honey-combs of Christ that drop upon that soure tree 3. That the Father saith from heaven There shall grow the fairest and most beautifull Rose that ever higher or lower Paradise yeelded out of this crabbed thorne was much consolation to Christ. Here growes out of the side and banks of the lake of that river of fire and wrath that Christ was plunged in many sweet flowers as 1. A victorious Redeemer who overcame hell sinne devils death the world 2. A faire and spotlesse righteousnesse 3. A redeemed a washed and sanctified Spouse to the Lamb. 4. A new heaven and a new earth behold Hee hath made all things new and hath cast heaven and earth in a new mould 5. A new Kingdom a new Crown to the Saints a choiser Paradice then the first that Adam lost 6. Riches of Free-grace unsearchable treasures of mercie and love all these blossome out of the Crosse. 4. The Crosse is bought by and in its nature much altered to the Saints It s true it s become a necessâ—ry in-let and an inevitable passage and a bridge to heaven but the Lord Jesus not Satan keeps the passe and commandeth the bridge and letteth in and leteth out Passengers at his pleasure But 1. Christ hath strawed the way to heaven with bloud and warres and forbids us to censure his sad Patrimony in that the servants are no worse then the Lord and floure of all the Martyrs though bloud hath been and must be the Rent and In-come of the Crowne of the noble King of Kings and the consecrated Captaine of our salvation Yet it is short and for a moment and Christ hath a way of out-gate that none of his shall be buried under the Crosse Revel 7.14 Psal. 4.19 2. Christ hath broken the iron chaines of the Crosse and the gates of brasse that the Crosse hath but a number of free Prisoners who have faire quarters and must goe out with flying colours and be ransomed from the grave John 16.33 Hos. 13.14 3. When you are in glory and in a place above death there shall be neither marke nor print no ceatrix of the sad crosse on backe or shoulder but the very furrow of teares wiped away and perfectly washen off the face with the water of life For the former things shall be away Revel 21.4 Yea the saddest of Crosses the utmost and last blow that the Crosse can inflict is death I should thinke that Christ is the Saints factor in the land of death He was there himselfe and though hee will not adjourne death yet hath our Factor made it cheap and at an easie rate all tole and custome is removed and he hath put a negation upon death Joh. 11.26 He that beleeveth shall not die John 14.19 Much dependeth on our wise husbanding of the rod of God yet if Christ did not manage order and oversee our furnace it could not be well with us I have both glorified it and will glorifie it againe This is the fourth considerable point the matter of the Answer Here is a Lord-Speaker from heaven testifying that the Lords name shall be and was glorified As 1. In Christs person and incarnation Joh. 1.14 The word was made flesh dwelt amongst us and we beheld his glory So the Angels did sing at his birth Luke 2.14 Glory to God on the highest Christs laying aside of his glory and his emptying of himself for us was the glory of rich mercy 2. His Miracles glorified God Joh. 2.11 This first miracle did Jesus to manifest his glorie When he cured the Paralytick man Luk. 2.12 they were amazed and glorified God When hee raised Jairus his daughter Luke 7.16 There came a feare on all and they glorified God 3. In all his life he went about doing good and sought Iohn 8.49 to glorifie his Father 4. In his death God was in singular maner glorified When the Centurion Luk. 23.49 saw what was done he glorified God The repenting Theife preached him on the Crosse to be a King and this was a glorifying of Christ in his greatest abusement and shame Yea his glory was preached by the Sunne when it
sufficient Ransome for sinne there is a seale put on the condemnation of all impenitent men that they shall not see life but the wrath of God that they were by nature under being the captives of the Law abideth on them John 3.36 Because they beleeve not in the Sonne of God John 16.9 Christs dying day was the unbeleevers Doomesday 2. Hee condemneth the World Declaratorily in removing the curse from all the persecutions of the ill world which was also more then a declaration it being a reall overcomming of the world John 14.33 Hee hath removed all offence from the enemitie and deadly fewd that the World beareth against the Saints Christs good will in dying hath sanctified sweetned and perfumed the Worlds ill-will to the Saints 3. He judgeth the World in his death exemplarily as it s said Hebr. 11.7 Noah condemned the world in preparing an Arke So Christs example of obedience in dying for the world at his Fathers command John 10.16 condemnes the Worlds disobedience Christ dying and in his thirst not Master of a cup of water is a judgement of the drunkard his dying being stript of his garments is a condemning of vaine and strange apparell his face spitted on saith beauty is vanity his dying bâ—tweene two theeves saith a high place among Princes is not much when the Prince of the Kings of the earth was marrowed with theeves his being forsaken of lovers and friends condemneth trusting in men and confidence in Princes or the Sonnâ—s of men all this is for our mortification that we love not the World for its Christs condemned malefactor Now is the Prince of this world cast out Here two things are considerable 1. Who is the Prince of this world 2. How he is by Christ cast out The Prince of this World is Satan so called John 14.30 And the Prince that rules in the Children of disobedience Ephes. 2.2 called with a higher name 2 Cor. 4.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The God of this world What Princedome or what God-head can the Devill have in the world or who gave to him a Scepter a Crowne and a Throne For Satan hath a Throne Revel 2.3 The Devill is not 1. a free Prince 2. Not an absolute Monarch 3. Nor a lawfull King not free because he is a captive Prince reserved in everlasting chaines of darkenesse unto the judgement of the great day Jude 6. The Sonne of God is the onely free prince in the world there be none independently free in heaven and earth but he John 8.36 The kingdome of grace is an ancient free estate and never was never can be conquer'd not by the gates of hell Mat. 16.18 Zach. 12.3 and in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone though all people of the earth be gathered together against it Sure Christ is a free king by all the reason and lawfull authority in heaven and earth Psal. 2.6 7. Hell is no free princedome all in it are slaves of sinne Iohn 8.34 39 40 41 42 43 44. The libertie of loving injoying seeing and praysing God and leasure or thoughts or cares to doe no other thing is the onely true liberty and liberty to be a King and absolute over lusts and wicked will is the onely liberty Psal. 119.45 I shall walke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in latitude in breath in liberty for I seeke thy precepts 2. Hee is not an absolute Prince 1. Hee is under baile and in chaines of irresistible providence Satans providence in power is narrower then his will and malice otherwise hee had not left a Church on earth 2. Hee can doe nothing without leave asked and given against Job nor could hee winnow Peter till hee petitioned for it 3. Hee is not a lawfull Monarch but usurpeth and therefore is called the god of this world 2 Cor. 4.4 not that hee hath any God-head properly so called 1. It s true a black Monarch weareth Christs faire Crown and intrudes on his Throne in every false worship as Levit. 17. Hee that killeth oxe or goat or lamb to the Lord in the camp and bringeth it not to the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation unto the Priest Vers. 7. Offereth sacrifice to devills 2 Chron. 11.15 Jeroboam ordained him Priests for the high places and for the devills and for the calves that hee had made 2. To feare the Devill the Sorcerer or him that can kill the body as Satan may beare the keyes of prison houses and the sword Revel 2.10 more then the Lord is to put a God-head on the Devill 3. Satan usurpeth a God-head over that which is the flower and most God-like and divine peece in man the mind 2 Cor. 4.4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the mind of them that beleeve not and hee makes a work-house of the soules of the children of disobedience Ephes. 2.2 they are the Devill 's forge and shop in whom hee frames curious peeces for himselfe 4. His crowne stands in relations Fathers Tyrants by strong hand and Lords by free-election were Kings of old so the Devill is a father hath children and a seed Act. 13.10 1 Joh. 3.10 the world is his conquest and his vassalls Acts 10.38 2 Tim. 2.26 1 Pet. 4 3. 5.8 are the world which hee governes and rules by the three fundamentall principles of his Catholike Kingdome which hee hath holden these 5000. years The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life 1 Joh. 2.16 Sinners hold the crown on the Devill 's head their loyalty to Prince Satan acteth on them to die in warres against the Lamb and his followers A cause is not good because followed by many Esay 17.7 in that day when the Church is but three or foure berries on the top of the olive tree a man one single man shall looke to his Maker Men come to Sion and follow Christ in ones and twoes of a whole Tribe Jer. 3.14 They goe to hell in thousands a whole earth Revel 13. worships the Westerne Beast and the Easterne Leopard hath the farre greatest part of the habitable world Indians and Americans worship Satan Christs are but a little flock ah the way to heaven is over-grown with grasse there the traces of few feet to be seen in the way onely you may see the print of our glorious Fore-runner Christs foot and of the Prophets Apostles Martyrs and the handfull that follow the Lamb. Follow yee on and misse not your lodging Shall be cast out There is a two-fold casting out of Satan one for his first sin 2 Pet. 2.4 God spared not the Angels that sinned but cast them down to hell Jude vers 6. This is a personall casting out not spoken of here But Satan must have two hells for though the Gospel was never intended to Satan yet Satan is guilty of Gospel-rebellion in that the Dragon fighteth with the Lamb and the weak woman travelling in birth by the Gospel to
Ezra 10.1 Neh. 9.2 In Scripture confession of sins is opposed to covering of sin and not forsaking of it Pro. 28. Joshua sought not such a confession of Achan James commands not such a Daniel's Ezra's Peter's confession were some other thing Joh. 1.20 Act. 19.18 Heb. 11.13 Pro. 28.13 1 Joh. 4.2 Mar. 3.6 Josh. 7.19 Dan. 9.4 Rom. 10.10 1 Tim. 6.13 Psal. 32.5 Jam. 5.16 Levit. 5.5 chap. 16.21 26.40 2 Chron. 6.24 In which places faith and confession of sins cannot be one nor are wee justified by confession as by faith But these men have learned to pervert the Scriptures Asser. 9. There be more vehement stirrings and wrestlings in a naturall spirit under the Law as the bullock is most unruly at the first yoking and greene wood casts most smoke Paul Rom. 7. was slaine by the Law but this makes more way for Christ and though it doe not morally soften and facilitate the new birth yet it ripeneth the out-breaking Preparations are penall to subdue not morall to deserve or merit nor conditionall to engage Christ to convert or to facilitate conversion Asser. 10. There be no preparations at all required before Redemption 1 Tim. 1.15 Rom. 5.8 But there is a farre other order in the working of Conversion Those who confound the one with the other speak ignorantly of the wayes of Grace for though both be of meere grace without wages or merit yet wee are meere patients in the one not in the other Saltmarsh and Antinomians argue from the one to the other most ignorantly Asser. 11. That the promises of the Gospel are holden forth to sinners as sinners hath a two fold sense 1. As that they be sinners and all in a sinfull condition to whom the promises are holden forth This is most true and sound The Kingdome of grace is an Hospitall and Guest-house of sick ones fit for the art and mercy of the Physician Christ. 2. So as they are all immediatly to beleeve and apply Christ and the promises who are sinners and there be nothing required of sinners but that they may all immediatly challenge interest in Christ after their owne way and order without humiliation or any Law-work In this sense it is most false that the Promises are holden forth to sinners as sinners because then Christ should bee holden forth to all sinners Americans Indians and sinners who never by the least rumor heard one word of Christ. 2. Peter desires not Simon Magus to beleeve that God had loved him in Christ Jesus with an everlasting love nor doth the Gospel-promise offer immediatly soule-rest to the hardened and proud sinner wallowing in his lusts as hee is a hardened sinner nor is the acceptable yeare of the Lord proclaimed nor beauty and the oyle of joy offered immediatly to any but to those who are weary and laden and who mourne in Sion and wallow in ashes Mat. 11.28 29 30. Esay 61.1 2 3. It s true to all within the visible Church Christ is offered without price or money but to be received after Christs fashion and order not after our order that is after the soule is under selfe-despaire of salvation and in the sinners moneth when hee hath been with childe of hell I grant in regard of time sinners cannot come too soon to Christ nor too early to Wisdome but in regard of order many come too soon and unprepared Simon Magus too soon beleeved Saltmarsh saith Hee mis-beleeved too soon for he falsly beleeved none can beleeve too soon Answ. To beleeve too soon is to mis-beleeve and Saltmarsh and Antinomians teach us the method of false-beleeving when they teach us too soone to beleeve that is to beleeve that God hath loved you be yee what yee will Simon Magus Judas or others with an everlasting love for that is the Antinomian Faith Simon Magus is without any fore-going humiliation or sense of sin or selfe-despaire to beleeve hee was no lesse written in the Lambs book of life from eternity then Peter and this hee cannot beleeve soon enough I say neither soon or late ought a reprobate to beleeve any such thing A covetous man who had great possessions had not yet bidden fare-well to his old god Mammon when hee came to Christ therefore hee departed sad from Christ. Another came before hee had buried his father and some come Luk. 14.28 29. before they advise with their strength and what Christ will cost them I desire I be not mistaken none can be throughly fitted for Christ before hee come to Christ but it is as true some would buy the pearle before they sell all they have which is not the wise Merchants part and they erre fouly who argue thus If I were not a sinner or if my sinnes were lesse hainous and so I were lesse unworthy I would come to Christ and beleeve but ah I am so grievous an offender and so unworthy that I cannot goe Their Antecedent is true but the Consequence is naught and wicked It is true I am sicke and good that I both say and feele that I am sicke but ergo I cannot I will not goe to the Physician that is wicked Logick and the contrary consequence is good whereas the other consequence is a seeking of righteousnesse in our selves 2. Another false ground is here laid by Libertines That wee place worth and righteousnesse in Preparations or 2. That Preparations make us lesse unworthy and lesse sinners But Preparations are not in any sort to us money nor hire wee value them as dung and sin yet such sin as sicknesse is in relation to physick 2. Preparations remove not one dram or twentieth part of an ounce of guiltinesse or sin Christ in practice of Free-grace not by Law yea not by promise gives grace to the thus prepared and often hee denyes it also Yea and there is a good houre appointed by God when Christ comes Other Physicians take diseases so early as they can lest the malice of the disease over-come art but Christ lets sin of purpose ripen to the eleventh houre often to the twelfth houre Hee knowes his art can over-take and out-run seven devils most easily The omnipotency of grace knowes no such thing as more or lesse pardonable in sin yea of purpose to heighten grace that sinfulnesse may contend with grace and be overcome the Gentiles must be like corn ripe white and yellow ere the sickle cut them down and they be converted Joh. 4.35 The boyle must be ripe ere it break the sea full ere it turne therefore the Lord appoints a time and sets a day for conversion Tit. 3.3 We our selves were sometime 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mad but the Lord hath a gracious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when When the kindnesse and man-love of God appeared hee saved us And Jer. 50.4 In those dayes and at that time saith the Lord the children of Israel shall come they and the children of Judah going and weeping they
shall seek the Lord. Zech. 12.11 And in that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon It s good to lie and wait at the doore and posts of Wisdomes house and to lie and attend Christs tyde it may come in an houre that you would never have beleeved O what depth of mercy when for naturall or no saving-one-waiting or upon a poore venture What if I goe to Christ I can have no lesse then I have beside any gracious intention the Lord saves and the wind not looked for turnes faire for a sea-voyage to heaven in the Lords time Asser. 12. The ground moving Christ to renew his love in drawing a fallen Saint out of the pit is the same that from heaven shined on him at the beginning Love is an undevided thing there are not two loves or three loves in Christ that which begins the good work promoves it even the same love which Christ hath taken up to heaven with him and there ye find it before you when ye come thither 2. Some love-sicknesse goes before his returne Cant. 3. I was but a little passed I found him whom my soule loves the skie devides and rents it selfe and then the Sunne is on its way to rise the birds begin to sing then the Summer is neere the voice of the Turtle is heard then the winter is gone when the affections grow warme the welbeloved is upon a returne 3. You die for want of Christ absence seemes to be at the highest when hunger for a renewed drawing in the way of comforting is great and the sad soule lowest he will come at night and sup if hee dine not 4. Let Christ moderate his own pace hope quietly waiteth Hope is not a shouting and a tumultuous grace 5. Your disposition for Christs returne can speake much for a renewed drawing as when the Church findes her own pace sâ—ow and prayes draw me we will runne then hee sendeth ushers before to tell that he will come 6. Sick nights for the Lords absence in not drawing are most spirituall signes Antinomians beleeve that all the promises in the Gospel made upon conditions to bee performed by creatures especially free-will casting in its share to the worke smell of some graines of the Law and of obedience for hire and that bargaining of this kind cannot consist with free grace And the doubt may seeme to have strength in that our Divines argue against the Arminian decree of election to glory upon condion of faith and perseverance foreseene in the persons so chosen because then election to glory should not be of meere grace but depend on some thing in the creature as on a condition or motive at least if not as on a cause worke or hire But Arminians reply the condition being of grace cannot make any thing against the freedome of the grace of election because so justification and glorification should not be of meere grace for sure we are justified and saved upon condition of faith freely given us of God The question then must bee Whether there can be any conditionall promises in the Gospel of Grace or whether a condition performed by us and free grace can consist together Antinomians say they are contrary as fire and water Hence these positions for the clearing of this considerable question Pos. 1. The condition that Arminians fancie to bee in the Gospel can neither consist with the grace of election justification calling of grace or crowning of beleevers with glory this condition they say we hold but they erre because it is a condition of hire that they have borrowed from Lawyers such as is betweene man and man ex causa onerosa it s absolutly in the power of men to doe or not to doe and bowes and determineth the Lord and his free will absolutly to this part of the contradiction which the creature choseth though contrary to the naturall inclination and Antecedent will and decree of God wishing desiring and earnestly inclining to the obedience and salvation of the creature Now works of grace and infinite grace flow from the bowels and in-most desire of God nothing without laying bonds chaines or determination on the Lords grace or his holy will Could our well-doing milke out of the breasts of Christs free grace or extrinsecally determine the will or acts of free-bounty Grace should not be grace But without money or hire the Lord giveth his wine and milke Isai 55.1 Ephes. 2.1 2. Ezech. 16.5 6 7. 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 3.3 2. Because such a condition is of work not of grace and so of no lesse Law-debt and bargaining then can be between man and man And the party that fulfilleth the condition is 1. most free to forfeit his wages by working or not working as the hireling or labourer in a vineyard yea or any Merchant ingaged to another to performe a condition of which he is Lord and Master to doe or not doe 2. He is no wise necessitate nor determined any way but as the hire or wages doe determine his will who so worketh but the wages being absolutely in his power to gaine them or lose them determine his will which cannot fall in the Almightie 3. Such a condition performed by the creature putteth the Creature to glory but not in the Lord but in himselfe Rom. 4.2 For if Abraham were justified by works hee hath whereof to glory but not before God Yea Adam before the fall and the elect Angels hold not life eternall by any such free condition of obedience as is absolutely referred to their free will to doe or not to doe so our Divines deny against Papists with good warrant the free-hold of life eternall by any title of merit Sure if God determine freewill in all good and gracious acts as I prove undeniably from Scripture 2. From the dominion of providence 3. The covenant between the Father and the Sonne Christ. 4. the intercession of Christ. 5. The promises of a new heart and perseverance 6. Our prayers to bow the heart to walke with God and not to lead us into temptation 7. The faith and confidence wee have that God will worke in the Saints to will and to doe to the end 8. The praise and glory of all our good works which are due to God onely c. If God I say determine free will to all good even before as after the entrance of sinne into the world and that of Grace for this grace hath place in Law-obedience in Men and Angels then such a condition cannot consist with Grace For such a condition puts the creature in a state above the Creator and all freedome in him Pos. 2. Evangelike conditions wrought in the Elect by the irresistible grace of God and Grace doe well consist together Joh. 5.24 Verily Verily I say unto you hee that heareth my word and beleeveth in him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not
Churches can be no rule to us 3. If there be any marke of Scripturall sanctification that doth not agree to Scripture the rule of righteousnesse though found in a person not mentioned in Scripture it s a delusion 4. It s all the reason in the world that a sinner be drawn to Christ. For Christ is the most rationall object that is he being the wisdome of God And man is led and taken with reason Christ is a convincing thing and invincibly bindeth reason so the forlorne Sonne before he returne to his Father argueth Luke 15.17 My Father hath bread he giveth it to servants and I am a starving Son therefore I 'le returne to my Father and the wise Merchant must discourse Matth. 13.45 46. Christ is a precious pearle all that I have in the world are but common stones and clay to him therefore I cast my account thus to sell all and to buy him So Matth. 9.21 the diseased Woman hath heart-Logick within her self if a touch of the border of his garment may heale me then I le goe to Christ and the unjust Steward cast Syllogismâ—s thus I cannot worke and a lodging in heaven I must have and there is but one way to come by it to make mee a friend in heaven Yea a fooles paradise a wedge of gold is a strong reason Prov. 7.21 The Whore forced the young man with guilded words and the out-side of reason Faith is the deepest and soundest understanding the gold the floure of reason Christ can make me a King therefore I le be drawne to him Poore Adam out-witted himselfe turned distracted he studied an aple so while hee studied all his postrity out of their wits and now wee are borne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mad fooles T it 3.3 What is the Gospel but a masse a Sea a world of faire and precious truthes that sayes come borne-Idiots to wisdome and be made eternall Kings this is good reason For the other way of drawing we shall speake of it here-after Asser. 3. In words and oratory there is no power to make the blinde see and the dead live Will yee preach heaven and Christ seven times and let Angels preach above a dead mans grave Yee doe just nothing But Christs word is more then a word Joh. 4.10 Jesus said if thou knewest that gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee give me drinke thou wouldest have asked of him and hee would have given thee living water Psalm 119.33 Teach mee O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keepe it unto the end Psalm 9.10 Those that know thy name will put their trust in thee Christ said but Follow me to Mathew And I said unto thee when thou wast in thy bloud live Ezech. 16.6 One word live is with child of omnipotencie Majesty and heaven and glory lie in the wombe of one world when Christ speaks as Christ he speaks pounds and talent-weights Luk. 24.32 The Disciples going to Emans say one to another did not our hearts burne within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures There bee coâ—es of fire and fire-brands in Christs words Christ is quick of understanding to know what word is the fittest key to shoote the yron barre that keepes thâ— heart closed he opens sealâ—s on the heart with authority violence may break up sealed letters but it may be unjustly done but authority can open Kings seales justly Christ not onely teacheth how to love or modum rei but hee teacheth Love it selfe he draweth a lump of love out of his owne heart and casts it in the sinners heart the Spirit perswadeth God Gal. 1.10 then hee must perswade Christ and perswade heaven this is more then to speake perswasive words of God and Christ it is to cast Christ in at the eare and in the bottome of the heart with words Men open things that they may be plaine to the understanding Christ opens the faculty it selfe to understand The Sunne gives light but cannot create eyes to see Christ can whole the broken optick nerves He creates both the Sunne and tyes a knot upon the broken eye-strings that the blind man sees bravely Asser. 4. One generall is unseparable from Christs drawing that for the manner of drawing he doth it out of meere free Love The principle of drawing on Christs part is great love Ephes. 2.4 God rich in mercy for his great love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sinne quickned us in Christ. Tit. 3.4 But when the bâ—unty and man-love or rather the man-kindnesse of God our Saviour appeared he saved us Thankes to the birth of love and of felt love Col. 1.12 13. Giving thanks to the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath delivered who hath snatched us with haste and violence from the power of darkenesse and hath translated us to the kingdome of the Sonne of his love â— This love hath in regard of his fervour much haste and loseth no time but comes and drawes and pulls the sinner out of hell before he be past recovery and cold dead as a Father seeing his child fall in the water and wrestling with the proud floods he runnes ere he be dead out of hand to pull him out Luk. 15.10 The Father ranne and fell on his neck and kissed him The Fathers running saith that the love of Christ hath need of haste to prevent a sinner and that hee is eager and hot in his love when Christ runnes to save hee would gladly save he drawes with good will when he runnes and sweats to come in the nick of due time to save So Cant. 2.8 when he commeth to save his Church or comfort her in her faintings loves pace is swift like the running of a Roe or a young Hart. Behold he commeth leaping upon the mountaines skipping on the hills And it is an expression of the extreme desire that Christ hath of an union with us and how faine hee would have the company of sinners So wee difference between inviting or calling yea or leading and drawing in calling and leading Christ leaveth more to our will whether we will come or refuse but in drawing there is more of violence lesse of will 3. In drawing there is love-sicknesse and lovely paine 〈◊〉 in Christs ravishings 1. When Christ cannot obtaine and winne the consent and good-liking of the sinner to his love he ravisheth and with strong hand drawes the sinner to himselfe when invitations doe not the businesse and he knocks and we will not open then a more powerfull work must follow Cant. 5.4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the doore and my bowels were moved for him Christ drives such as will not be led 2. And these who will not be invited he must draw them rather then want them he drawes with compassion as being overcommed with love for his bowels are moved
his strength When John saw him thus he was so over-gloried with the beauty and brightnesse of his Majestie that whereas he was wont to leane on his bosome in the daies of his flesh now he is not able to stand and endure one glance of his highest glory but saith he Ver. 17. And when I saw him I fell down at his feet as dead And there was much lovely and tender affection lapped up in this glory when poore John fell a swouning at his feet Christ for all his glory holds his head in his swoune And he laid his right hand on my head saying unto me feare not I am the first and the last I am good for swouning and dying sinners Why I am he that liveth and was dead And behold I live for evermore Would sinners but draw neere and come and see this King Salomon in his chariot of love behold his beautie the uncreated white and red in his countenâ—nce hee would draw soules to him there is omnipotencie of love in his countenance all that is said of him here are but created shadowes aâ— words are short to expresse his nature person office lovelynesse desirablenesse What a broad and beautifull face must hee have who with one smile and one turning of his countenance lookes upon all in heaven and all in the earth and casts a heaven of burning love East and West South and North through heaven and earth and filles them all Suppose omnipotencie would inlarge the globe of the world and the heaven of heavens and cause it to swell to the quantity and number of millions of millions of worlds and make it so huge and capacious a vessell and fill it with so many millions of elect Men and Angels and then fill them and all this wide circle with love it would no more come neere to take in Christs lovely beauty then a spoon can containe all the Seas or then a childe can hide in his hand the globe of the world Yea suppose all the cornes of sand in all the earth and shores all the floures all the herbes and all the leaves all the twigs of trees in woods and forrests since the creation all the drops of dew and raine that ever the cloudes send downe all the starres in heaven all the lithes joynts drops of blood haires of all the elect on earth that are have beene or shall be were all rationall creatures and had the wisdome and tongues of Angels to speake of the lovelinesse beauty vertues of Jesus Christ they would in all their expressions stay millions of miles on this side of Christ and his lovelinesse and beauty It is the wicked fleshly disposition of Libertines who turne all the beauty excellency freenesse of grace in Christ to a cloake of licentiousnesse and a liberty of all Religions they highly under-value free-grace as any Hereticks that ever the Church of Christ law who turne all sanctification all the grace of Christ that should be expressed in strict precise accurate walking with God but as farre from merit as grace and and debt as Christs free grace and the condemning Law into a notionall speculative apprehension or rather a presumptuous imagination or Antinomian faith that Christ hath obeyed mortified the lusts of the flesh for the sinner that no Law no commandement of God no letter of the Word obligeth us to walke with God onely an immediate Enthiasticall unwarrantable inspiration of a Spirit without the Word or blasts of love when they come and not but when they come ingageth beleevers to keepe any commandement of God Never Pelagian Jesuit Arminian were such disgracefull enemies to Jesus Christ to free justification and the grace of the Gospel as Antinomians for they make the Law of God and the love of God in commanding holy walking opposite all the doctrine of the New Testament that teacheth and commandeth to deny ungodlinesse all the Old Testament and particularly the 119. Psalme reconcileth the Law commanding to keep the Lords wayes and testimonies and the love of Christ sweetning with delight and joy holy walking as one and the same way of God Vse 2. Again nothing more lesseneth Christ then the heightning of the world in the hearts of men Haman had the scum of the pleasures of 127. Kingdomes yet there was a bone wrong in his foot anger and malice to see Mordecai is a hell to him it s a sweeter burthen to bear the fire and coals of the love of Christ in the heart then the hell of envy in the soule Nay say that all the damned in hell were brought up with their burning and fiery chaines of eternall wrath to the outermost doore of heaven and strike up a window and let them look in and behold the Throne and the Lamb and the troups of glorified ones clothed in white with crowns of gold on their head and palms in their hands shewing their Kingly and victorious condition and let them through a window in heaven hear the musick of the new Song the eternall praises of the conquering King and Redeemer they should not only be sweetned in their paine but convinced of their foolish choise that they hunted with much sweating after carnall delights and lost the fulnesse of joy and pleasures that lasts for evermore in the Lords face Would we beleeve the Spies that have been visiting the new Land that Immanuel God with us is Lord of hear for Moses he was in that Land and he saith Deut. 33.29 Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy helpe and who is the sword of thy excellencie David was there a landed man and what saith he of that new Land that Christ hath found out Psal. 16. Canaan at its best is but a wildernesse to it Vers. 6. The lines are fallen to me in pleasant things or places Then there must be multitudes of pleasures not one only in God My heritage is pleasant above me above my thoughts or I have a goodly heritage Solomon was a messenger who saw both lands and he saith Eccles. 2.13 Then I saw that wisedome excelled folly as far as light exceedeth darknesse And the Spouse saith Cant. 1.12 When the King sitteth at his table my Spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof 13. A bundle of Myrrhe is my beloved he shall lie all night between my breasts Cant. 2.4 He brought me to the banquetting house and his banner over me was love All the Song reporteth great things of the Kingdome of Grace Ask of Isaiah What saw ye there he answereth c. 25.6 It is a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow And Ezekiel saith That there shall be a brave summer in that land Chap. 47.12 By the river upon the banke thereof on this side and on that side shall grow all trees for meat whose leafe shall not fade neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed it shall bring forth new
honourable being come of the bloud-royall of the Princely seed Joh. 1.13 1 Joh. 3.1 9. And the Church is a spirituall Monarchy The Plant of renowne their Head said of her Isai. 62.3 Thou shalt be a crowne of glory in the hand of the Lord and a royall diadem in the hand of thy God Asser. 6. The other particular manner of drawing sinners to Christ is reall In which wee are to consider these two 1. Gods fit application of his drawing of the will 2. His irresistible pull of omnipotency In the former way of working I desire that notice be taken for Doctrines cause rather then for Art of Logicall method of these foure wayes 1. God worketh by measure and proportion 2. By condiscension 3. By fit internall application 4. By externall providentiall accommodation of outward meanes 1. In works of omnipotency without God we see hee keeps proportion with that which hee works upon When God waters the earth hee opens not all the windowes of heaven as hee did in the Deluge to poure on mountaines and valleyes all his waters in one heap for hee should then not refresh but drown the earth therefore hee makes the clouds like a sieve and divides the raine in hoasts and millions of drops of dew that every single flower and inch of earth may receive moistening according to its proportion If the sun were as low down as the câ—ouds it should with heat burn up every green herb tree rose flower and our bodies and if it were the highest of Planets all vegetables on earth should perish through extreme cold It may be a question though the omnipotent power of God move the will invincibly and irresistibly Whether Omnipotency puts forth all its strength on the will or whether the will be able to beare the swing of Omnipotency in its full strength If the Fowler should apply all his force and strength to catch the bird alive hee should strangle and kill it Divines say that Christs dominion in turning the will is Dominium forte sed suave strong but sweet and alluring No wonder if hee carry the lambs in his bosome Isai. 40.11 the warmnesse and heat of his bosome must sweetly allure the will Drive a Chariot as swiftly as an Eagle flieth and yee fire and break the wheels Knock Chrystall glasses with hammers as if yee were cleaving wood and yee can make no vessels of them This is not to deny that Gods omnipotent power must turne the will but to shew how sweetly hee leadeth the inclinations 2. The Lord by wiles and art works upon the will Hos. 2.14 I will allure her and bring her to the wildernesse and speak to her heart The word of alluring is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seductus deceptus fuit to be beguiled and the Hebrew is I will beguile or deceive her as Deut 11.26 Take heed to your selves that your heart be not deceived So Pethi is the simple man that is facile and easily perswaded Psal. 116.6 The Lord preserveth the simple Then hee saith hee will speak to her heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super secundum hee will speak friendly to her not according to the renewed heart for it was not yet renewed not according to the corrupt and unrenewed heart for nothing that the Lord speaketh according to sinners is sutable but contrary to the renewed heart and to internall perswading but hee speaketh all reason according to the temper and naturall frame of the heart to convince and perswade that there is more reason in turning to God then that the wit or engine of man can speak against it Grace is pia fraus a holy deceit that ere the soule be aware it is catched and though that be spoken of Christ Cant. 6.12 Ere ever I was aware my soule made me like the chariots of Amminadab yet it hath truth in this that 1. No unconverted man intends to be converted till God convert him because spirituall intention is a vitall act of the soule living to God No living man can put forth a vitall act of life till the Lord be pleased to give him a new life 2. That spirituall love alluring the soule worketh by such art as cannot be resisted Hence conversion and being drawn to Christ is termed by the name of charming even as turning off Christ is a bewitching or killing with an evill eye as wee say Gal. 3.1 And so being drawne to God is called a charming And the wicked are rebuked for this Psal. 58.4 5. that being strangers to God they are like the deafe adder that stoppeth her eare and will not hearken to the voyce of Charmers or Singers who sing as Witches and Inchanters doe charming wisely There be two words that signifieâ—inchanting the former is to mutter with a low voyce as they doe to serpents to take and kill them the other is to conjoyne and associate in one as Witches doe things most contrary Conversion to God is to be allured bewitched overcome with the art of heaven that changeth the heart And the Lord made Peter and the Apostles fishers of men Christ layeth out hooks and lines in the Gospel Luk. 5.10 to catch men with hope as fishes are taken Christ so condiscendeth to work upon the will as with art and unawares the will is taken and made sick of love for Christ and the man intended no such thing as sicknesse cometh on men beside their knowledge or intention So Christ maketh himselfe and heaven so lovely and such a proportion and similitude between the soule and his beauty as hee appâ—ares most desirable taking and alluring Gal. 4.20 I desire to be present among you saith Paul and to change my voyce I desire not to speak roughly and with asperity as I have written but as a mother speaketh to her children to allure you The word of God is an arrow that kills afarre off and ere yee see it There is a great difficulty to perswade a man who is in another element and without the sphere of the Gospels activity as Christ and the naturall man are in two contrary elements There is required art for a man on the earth to take a bird flying in the aire or for a man in a ship or on the bank of the river to catch a fish swimming in the element of the water Christ layes out the wit the art and the wiles of free grace to charme the sinner but the sinner stops his eare there is need of the witch-craft of heaven to doe this The love of Christ and his tongue is a great Inchantresse Ezek. 16.8 I said unto thee when thou wast dying in thy bloud Live 3. Christ knoweth how to apply himselfe internally to the will Suppose one were to perswade a stiffe and inexorable man and knew what argument would win his heart hee would use that The will is like a great curious engine of a water-work consisting of an hundred wheels of which one being moved it moveth all the
ninety nine beside because this is the Master wheele that stirreth all the rest Now the Lord knoweth how to reach down his hand to the bottome of the elective faculty and that wheele being moved without more adoe it drawes all the affections as subordinate wheels If the key be not so fitted in the work wards and turnings of it as to remove the crosse-barre it cannot open the doore Omnipotency of grace is so framed and accommodated by infinite wisdome as that it can shoot aside the dissenting power without any violence and get open the doore If free will be the workmanship of God as wee must confesse it is a needlesse arguing of Arminians and Jesuites to say that free will is essentially a power absolutely loosed from predeterminating Providence so as whatever God doth on the contrary it may doe or not doe it may nill will chuse refuse or suspend its action for such a creature so absolute so soveraigne and independent as hee that made it cannot without violence to nature turn move bow determine and master it in all its elective power for his own ends and as seemeth good to the Potter for the manifestation of mercy and justice is to say Hee that made the free will cannot have mercy on it hee that framed the clay-vessel cannot use it for honour or dishonour as hee pleaseth hee that moulded and created the horologe and all the pins pieces and parts hath not power to turn the wheels as hee pleaseth 4. Christ in externall meanes accommodates himselfe so in the revealing of himselfe as hee thinks good 1. In accommodating his influence with his word 2. With externalls of providence The breathings of the Holy Ghost goe so along with the word as the word and the Spirit are united as if they were one Agent as sweet smells are carried through the aire to the nose The word is the chariot the vehiculum the horse the Spirit the Rider The word the arrow the Spirit steeleth and sharpeneth the arrow The word the sword the Spirit the steel-mouth and edge that cutteth and divideth asunder the soule and the spirit the marrow and the joynts Heb. 4.12 It is the same Christ in all his lovelinesse and sweetnesse that is preached in the word and conveyed to the soule not God or Christ as abstracted from the word as Enthusiasts dreame And though the Preacher adde a Ministeriall spirit to the word to cause Felix tremble yet hee is not Master of the saving and converting Spirit Golden words though all Gospel and honeyed with heaven and glory planting and watering without the Spirit are nothing In externals of providence God chuseth 1. Meanes 2. Time 3. Disposition 4. Anticipation of the sinners intention 5. Fit words 1. In meanes God appeares to Moses acquainted with mountaines and woods in a bush which burnt with fire to the Wisemen skilled in the motions of the heaven in a new starre to Peter a fisher in a draught of fishes 2. He setteth a time and takes the sinner in his month Jer. 2.24 In his time of love Ezech. 16.8 When he is ripe like the first ripe in the figge-tree Hos. 9.10 3. Often he chuseth in the furnace Hos. 5. Last verse I will returne to my place Hebrew till they make defection or be guilty for the most part man is not guilty in his owne eyes while hee bee as Manasseh was in the bryars the fire melting the silver portrait of a horse causes it losse the figure of head feet leggs and turnes all in liquid white water and then the metall is ready to receive a farre other shape of a man or any other thing the man is ductill and bowable and â—npartiall when God seales and stamps the rodd he is not so wedded to himselfe as before it may be also that mercies and great deliverances and favours melt the man and bring him to some gracious capacity to be wrought on by Christ. 4. Christ anticipates the current of the heart and intention When Saul is on a banquet of blood Christ out-runnes him and turnes him all men are converted contrary to their intentions thousands are in a channell and current of high provocations and they are in the fury of swelling over the banks and Christ gets before them to turne the current to another channell Christ is swift and they are all chased men that are converted Sure Mathew that morning he came to the receipt of custome minded nothing but money and his count book and had not a forset purpose of Christ and because intentions purposes counsels are as it were essentiall to rationall men as men and the refined'st acts of reason and their noblest and most Angel-like works and Christ catcheth sinners contrary to their intentions and in this sense saves the sinner blesses him and gives him Christ and heaven against his will whether he will or not that is whether he spiritually will or no or whether he savingly intend his owne conversion or not 5. There is one golden word and God is in the word one good word that is fit and dexterous hic nunc Prov. 25.11 A word fitly spoken Heb. a word spoken on his wheeles is like apples of gold in pictures of silver Sure Christs words to a sinner ripe for conversion moves on wheeles that is in such order as two wheeles in one cart they answer most friendly one to another in their motion because Christ observeth due circumstances of time place person congruency with the will and disposition As Hos. 2.14 and Salomons Ecoles 12.10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words Hebr. words of will or of good will Christ was greater then Salomon and is a higher Preacher then he and seeks out words to the heart that burns the heart Luk. 24.32 Sure there is more of heaven more life and fire in these words to Mathew Follow me and to dying Jerusalem Live then in ordinary words the Hebrews call vaine words Esai 36.5 A word of lips Prov. 14.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these be words of winde that are empty and have no fruit the words of the Lord fitted for converting are words of the heart and words of power which want not the effect they are words fit for the heart Esai 40.2 Hos. 2.14 Such words as teach the heart Esai 54.13 Joh. 6.45 there is an uncreated word sutable for the heart that goes along with the word spoken and that meets with all the byases turnings and contradictions of the heart and takes the man and no word but that onely can doe the businesse there is a word that is with child of love a word commeth from God and its a coale from the Altar that is before the Lords throne and it fires up all yron locks in the soule that the will must yeeld The woman of Samaria heareth but these words I am he that talketh with thee and her will is burnt with a strong necessity of love
complaining would be examined Seldome or never is it seen that a reprobate man can be in sad earnest heavie in heart touching his deadnesse of heart and fruitlesse hearing of the word of God thirty or fourty yeares and withall if there be a dram of sincerity the least graine of Christ as if the soule doe but look afarre-off with halfe an eye yet greedily after the Lord Jesus it s a sweet beginning It s true a talent weight of iron or sand is as weighty as a talent weight of gold but in a Saint an ounce weight of grace hath more weight then a pound of corruption It is no Gospel-truth that Antinomians teach That God loves no man lesse for sin or no man more for inherent holinesse It s true of the love of election and reconciliation in the work of justification but most false of the love of divine manifestation in the work of sanctification as is cleare Joh. 14.21 23. Nor are men by this taught to seek righteousnesse in themselves because they are commanded to try and examine themselves as 1 Cor. 11.28 2 Cor. 13.5 4. Such soules would upon any termes be brought to reason and debate the question with Christ that as the Law may stop their mouth before God so mercy may stop the mouth of the Law and sin and it may convincingly be cleared that though scarlet or crimson can by no art be made white yet Christ who is above art can make them white Isai. 1.18 as wooll and snow And therefore such would be brought in an high esteeme and deep judgement of Christs fairnesse beauty excellency incompatable and transcendent worth and though a soule have a too high esteeme of his sins yet say that hee dies with an high esteeme of Jesus Chriâ—t hee is in no danger for faith is but a swelled an high and broad opinion and thought of the incomparable excellency and sweetnesse of Jesus Christ. Vse 8. This powerfull drawing teacheth humble thankefulnesse 1. The most harmelesse and innocent sinner must bee in Christs book for the debt of ten thousand Talents 2. The sense of drawing grace is mighty ingaging every act of thankfull obedience should come out of this wombe as the birth and child of the felt love of God Christ did bid such a man battell 2. He was Christs enemy when he took him 3. It cost Christ blood he died to conquer an enemie Rom. 5.10 4. He kept the taken enemy alive he might have killed him he gave him more then quarters he made a captive a King Rev. 1.6 Suppose we Christ should in his own person come locally down to hell and look upon so many thousands scorching and flaming in that unsufferable lake of fire and brimstone if he should cull out by the head and name so many thousands of them even while they were spitting on Christ blaspheming his name and scratching his face and should loose off the fetters of everlasting vengeance and draw them from amongst millions of damned Spirits lay them in his bosome carry them to heaven set them on Thrones of glory crown them as Kings to raigne with him for evermore Would they not be shamed and overcome with this love kisse and adore so free a Redeemer and thus really hath Christ dealt with sinners look on your debts written in Christs grace-book would not such a redeemed one praise his Ransomer and say O if every finger every inch of a bone every lith every drop of blood of my body every hair of my head were in an Angels perfection to praise Iesus Christ O the weight of the debt of love O the gold Mynes and the depths of Christs free love 3. Consider what expressions vessels of grace have used of free grace how far below grace Paul sets himself lo here Eph. 3.8 To me who am 1. Lesse then a Saint 2. Not that only but lesse then the least 3. Lesse then the least of Saints But 4. yet a little lower lesse then the least of all Saints is this grace given that I should preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Gospell riches is grace and mercy but there is a great abundance of it it s a speech from quick-sented hounds who have neither footstep nor trace nor sent left them of the game they pursue Christ defies men and Angels to trace him in the wayes of grace So Paul 1 Tim. 1.13 I was a blasphemer and a persecuter and an injurious person 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but I was be-mercied as if dipt in a river in a Sea of mercy Vers. 14. And the grace of the Lord Jesus to me was abundant No that is to low a word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his grace was more or over-abundant one Paul obtained as much grace even so whole and compleat a ransome without diminishing as would have saved a world Rom. 5.15 If through the offence of one many bee dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word is exceedingly to abound and borrowed from fountaines and rivers which have flowed with waters since the creation but there is a higher word Vers. 12. Where sinne abounded grace farre more or exceedingly over-abounded or more then over-abounded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Vers. 21. Sin reigned unto death that grace might reigne unto life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Christs grace might play the King The saving knowledge of God under the Kingdome of the Messiah Esai 11.9 fills the earth as the Sea is covered with waters A Sea of Faith and a Earthfull of the grace of saving light and a Sunne sevenfold as the light of seven dayes Esai 30.26 hold forth to us a large measure of grace and righteousnessâ— and peace like a river and the waves of the sea Esai 48.18 All these say Christ is no niggard of grace And 4. can they not weare and out-spend their harps who fall downe before the Lambe Revel 14. and Revel 5.8 Who with a loude voice praise the grace of God Vers. 12. For ever and ever Consider if it must not be a loud voice when ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand thousands all joyne in one song to extoll grace if we be not in word and deed obliged to expresse the vertues and praises of him who hath called us from darkenesse to his marveilous light Vers. 32. And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men to me Article II. The next thing we consider is the person that drawes I sayes Christ I will draw all men to me There is a peculiar aptitude in Jesus Christ to drawe sinners to himselfe 1. As concerning his person he is fit for neither is the Father nor the Holy Ghost in person Lord Redeemer but Christ as in the deep of Gods wisdome the Sonne was thought fittest to make Sonnes Galat. 4.4 the heire to communicate the right of heire-ship
with himselfe as the Bridgrome is farre more excellent then his bracelets chaines rings In this sense I would in my heart and esteeme make away all ordinances yea all the honey-combes all the apples all the created roses that grow on Christ all the sweet results and out-flowings of glory yea whole created heaven for Christ Christ God himselfe the bulke the body the stalke of the tree of life is infinitly to be valued above an apple yea all the created apples and sweet blossomes and soule-delighting floures that groweth on the tree Now here on earth we are happy as heires not as Lords and possessors and in an union with the exterior and revealed will of God in beleeving fearing serving God in Christ in a practicall union with God but all this is but the way to the weell not the wee ll it selfe and the union with or vision of God is mediate farre off in a mirrour in the image forme characters elements or looking-glasse of Word Sacraments Ministery Ordinances of hearing praying praysing but in heaven wee see God face to face that is without meanes or the intervention of messengers or ordinances I cannot determine whether when we shall know and see the Lord in an immediate vision of glory our understanding shall receive created formes intellectuall species images characters of the lovely essence the white ruddy pleasant lovely countenance of that desirable Prince the Lord Jesus it s a nicety not for our edification sure Christ shal infuse and poure in into every vessell of glory so much of himselfe his presence lovlinessâ— image beauty as from bottome to brimme the soule shall be full and who knoweth what the eternall milkings the everlasting intellectuall suckings of the glorified ones are by which they draw in and drinke from the honey-combe of uncreated glory and the deepe deepe fountaine and river of endlesse life the streames of joy consolation love fruition of Jehovah the soule being the channell whose bankes are eternally greene with glory what are the emanations the out-flowings of blessedness from the pure essence and bright face of him that sitteth on the throne and what can these in-commings and the eternall flowings of the tyde of that Sea of matchless felicitie bee who knoweth Come up and see can best resolve come up and drinke be drunke and giddie and satiated with glory and move no curious question of that fruition of God Christ will solve all these doubts to the quieting of your minde when yee come up thither nor is it needfull to say that there is a vision of God in this life which is heaven and all the heaven wee shall ever have and this vision is without receiving any images formes characters of God because it is purely spirituall and abstracted from all acts of imagination and in it we are meere patients not agents God powring the immediate brightnesse of his owne essence in us truely this is to be wise above what is written and I crave leave to doubt if Familists have the images and species of this opinion from the Spirit of God For that spirit is a Spirit of sobriety and the most spirituall and extaticall visions that the Prophets the men of God were taken up with in them all to me there seems to be visions of formes images characters a Throne Angels with six wings smoake a woman cloathed with the Sunne c. A pot toward the North a cloude and a fire infolding it selfe a colour of Amber out of the midst of the fire but a vision of God immediate in this life and that ordinary without forms images without Word Sacraments Ordinances I know not I understand it not Pos. 3. The Monkish conceit of the excellency of a contemplative life separated from all obligation to duties of the second Table above the practicall life hath been the first seed of wicked Familisme the Authors of both these books called Theologia Germanica and The Brighs Star being professed Papists though Mr. Randall extoll both as peeces of rare price and Doctrines suiting only for the perfect as if the Scripture were not such a peece yet professed grosse Idolatry and the adoring of the wood of the Cross is in The Bright Star cap. 19. and divers other Popish principles are in both Pos. 4. There is a twofold fulnes of lovelinesse in Christ one attainable in this life the other reserved for the life to come The full and highest pitch of the drawing loveliness of Christ I thinke excludeth all Ordinances Scripture Sacraments and meanes we now use Because Old Monks and late Familists make no heaven but in this life only as if a Monks coul were the very crown of eternall glory and say the Resurrection is past as their Fathers Hymeneus and Phyletus said and doubt of the immortality of the Soule therefore they that they may be true to their own principles must say that there be a number of perfect men that are above and higher then Law duties ordinances teaching of men ministery because these are for the unperfect and unregenerate and the Monks and Familists are not such but doe already injoy God in a fruition of Glory But the Scripture saith That meanes ordinances are ever in use in this life and only excluded from the life to come 1 Cor. 13.8 Charity never faileth But whether there be prophecies they shall faile whether there be tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away Ver. 9. For we know in part and we prophecy in part 10. But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away v 12. For now in this life we see through a glasse darkly But then in the life to come face to face Now I know in part but then I shall know even as also I am known And that this is a Paralell between this life and the life to come is clear from the 1 Joh. 3.2 Behold now we are the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know when he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 2. The life to come is holden forth Revel 21.22 to want all Ordinances And I saw no Temple therein saith Iohn when he saw the New Jerusalem for the Lord God Almighty and the Lambe are the Temple of it Nor is there any ignorance there Rev. 22.5 And there shall be no night there and they need no Candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever What ever any say of a personall reign of Christ on earth the words prove that while that life come all the regenerate here have need of a Temple and Ordinances so long as there is night and darkness and use for Sun and Moon so the date of Church ordinances is holden forth Cant. 2.16 My well-beloved is mine and I am his he feedeth among the Lillies 17. Vntill the
day breake and the shadowes flee away Then there is a night on the Church and need of the Moon light of Ordinances so long as Christ by his Ministery remaines in the Shepherds tents feeding his flock in the strength of the Lord and holding forth his presence to his justified ones spotlesse and fair through the imputed righteousnesse of Christ as Lillies while the fairest and most desirable day of that illustrious and glorious appearance of Christ dawn and Paul clearly expoundeth these words Ephes. 4. shewing the terme day of Christs raigne in his Saints by the Ministery of the Gospel and that the Saints and body of Christ are but in the way to be perfected and edified by Pastors and Teachers verse 13. Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. Hence Saints are not perfected till that day 2. The body of Christ is low of stature capable of growing the brides hair groweth she is not of a perfect â—all stature but like a yong girle not yet fit for Marriage to the Lamb Till we meet all in the unity of Faith So I know no active anihilation no evanishing of and ceasing from all acts of the will of God revealed in the law and Gospell that is from praying hearing meditating loving desiring longing after Christ till the day that the shaddowes flee away Then I confesse I shall have no leasure to read on the book of the Old and New Testament or to attend Preaching Sacraments or other ordinances because I need no mirror no portrait of Christ no message of Ministers when I see and injoy himselfe 3. All who have God for their Father and need daily bread and are clothed with a body of clay are to pray for remission of sins not to be led into temptation or sinfull omitting of duties all for whom the blood of Jesus is shed are to declare the Lords death till he come again What ceasing then from duties of Law Love the Spirit and Christ is this where is this fancied annihilation to be dreamed of Scripture knoweth it not Pos. 5. There is a fulness of loveliness in Christ that is begun in us by possession and title in this life but never perfect till the life to come in which there be these 1. Vnion 2. Fruition 3. Rest. 4. Satisfaction 5. Sense 6. Living and acting in Christ. 7. Loving and solacing of the soule of which to hold forth more of the drawing of Christ we say Pos. 6. Christs inviting us to come to him and that before we can invite him speaketh union 1. Such an union as faith can make which ariseth not to the pitch of sight and immediate fruition for its the union of those that are absent one from another in regard of fulnesse of presence 2 Cor. 5.6 Knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord John 16.7 Neverthelesse I tell you the truth it is expedient that I goe away Luke 19.12 He said therefore a certain Nobleman went into a farre countrey to receive for himselfe a Kingdome and to return Yet it is the union of those that are so neer as the house and the guest or as two friends that tables together Ephes. 3.17 Ioh. 14.23 Rev. 3.21 2. It s an union of fruition for Christ in some measure is injoyed in this life yet so as the fruition is in part not compleat and full in degrees as it shall be in the life to come it is there for both a fruition of rest and of motion of rest in regard of the present fruition of motion in regard of advancing in the way to a compleat fruition so as is in a journey in regard of practicall love and at its home in regard of love and union of fruition so the soule is both satisfied with bread and hungers no more Isai. 55.2 but delighteth it selfe in fatnesse and thirsteth no more having a present sense of complacâ—ncy and content in the water of life Joh. 4.14 and also the soule is so farre forth not satisfied and its thirst not quenched but that it hungreth and thirsteth for a fuller union and an immediate fruition in which regard the soule is both abroad in its way and motion to have more of Christ and at home and at rest in regard it is fully satisfied exclusively not inclusively because this satisfaction excludeth and anihilateth all choice of another lover then Christ and denies all deliberate comparing of Christ with any other lover as holding and prizing him the chiefe of ten thousand and resolving never to fixe the desire on another Husband or Lover but Christ as Cant. 3.4 It was but a little that I passed from the watchmen but I found him whom my soule loveth I held him and would not let him go untill I had brought him into my mothers house and the chamber of her that conceived me Finding and holding of Christ is as much as there is satisfaction and rest in the fruition of him and yet the Spouses aime to go hand in hand on a journey to the house of the high Jerusalem the mother of us all which with submission I conceive the Spouse calleth her Mothers house doth clearly prove that she is not perfect but in a motion not yet at her journeys end till she come with Christ to the Palace of the Princes daughter the Bride the Lambes wife Revel 21.10 11 12. Hence we see how true that is that the desires are swallowed up into the bosome of infinite Iesus Christ as a little brook is swallowed up when it comes into the Ocean and yet the desires remaine They are swallowed up in Christ in that the soule is at home being quieted and perfected in Christ and are no more restlesse and pained in the journey toward Christ but as heaven is begun on earth so hath David quietness of mind and breaketh forth in praises That the Lord gave him counsell to chuse God himselfe for his portion Psal. 16.5 6 7. So goodly and pleasant is the heritage And now there is no more desire for Christ as a thing absent and the thirst is swallowed up in Christ the soule thirsteth no more Ioh. 4.14 And yet the desire remaineth both in the sweet complacency and liking of the Saints delighting in present fruition and also in an act of longing for the highest pitch of degrees of union just as in the act of drinking thirst is halfe swallowed up in begun satisfaction and thirst remaineth in a liking and a farther desire of a perfect cooling and refreshing overcomming of a full quenching of the appetite Pos. 7. Yet can it not be said but here is a begun satisfaction for Joh. 4.14 Christ injoyed is a draught of the water of life freely given Revel 22.17 That whosoever will may drink of the water of life freely Joh. 7.37 In the last
God is formally all things that God is man that God is the Spirit and forme that acteth in all that a holy man is God incarnate and Christ God man and that Christ the Mediator is nothing but God humanized and man Godded and deified and that Christ dwelling in a beleever by faith and the inhabitation of the holy Ghost is but God manifested in the flesh of every man This destroyeth many articles of Faith as Familists care not boldly to subvert all Scriptures for Christ then is not true man borne of the seed of David and he is not God blessed for ever in one person 2. All creatures and created beings compared with God the first being of himselfe subsisting and the infinite God may be denied to bee beings comparatively And so our created selfe is nothing to wit nothing in dignitie or excellencie beside God or nothing in the kinde of a being that essentially is of it selfe as God is in genere entis per essentiam yet man is a being in the kinde of being by participation in genere entis per participationem man compared with God is a poore worthless sorry little-nothing a weeping melting evanishing Cipher Yea sweetest ordinances because it s but created sweetness that is in them are neare of blood to nothing and in comparison of God meere shaddows that cannot bottome the immortall soule and nothing and partake of vanitie common to all creatures So the Scripture saith Man at his best state is altogether vanitie Psal. 39.5 Behold thou hast made my dayes as a hand breadth and mine age is nothing before thee verily every man at his best state is altogether vanitie Esai 40.17 All nations before him are nothing and lesse then nothing and vanitie Yet a heathen may say and thinke and demonstrate by reason that selfe and man and all the world are lesse in incomparison of the infinite God then nothing to all things a droppe of water to the Sea the shaddow to the body a peny-torch to the light of ten thousand millions of Suns in one and yet be as farre from selfe-denyall from puting off the old man and mortifying the lusts of the flesh as light is from darknesse It is most vaine to say as its the property of the creature to seeke and will it selfe and its own and this or that here or there as it is the property of God to bee without this or that without selfiness egoity or the like Because every thing created even worms frogs trees elements such creatures as beget creatures like themselves they have such a sweet and naturall interest in being that without sin or deviation from law or rule or any leading or directing principle of nature they desire themselves their owne being and when they cannot keepe being in themselves they desire to keep it in the kind by propagation and will fight it out against all contraries and enemies to preserve their owne being though but borrowed from God and I know no sin they are guilty of in so doing nor was Christs conditional desire of life and deprecating death any whit contrary to innocent selfe-denyall 2. The Lord seeketh himselfe and his owne glory and made all things for himselfe even the wicked for the evill day Prov. 16.4 And that is a most holy and pure act which God ascribeth to himselfe Esai 43 21. This people have I formed for my selfe they shall shew forth my praise Now in all dwelling in Christ there is a continuall acting of life by beleeving joying resting in God As Phillip saith Iohn 14.8 Lord shew us the father and it sufficeth us Here life seeks a soule-satisfying union with life for life is onely a satisfactorie object to life Living things seeke no dead things as such to be their happinesse if reason doe rightly act them and God as revealed in Iesus Christ is that in which the Saints find a soule sufficiency for themselves and the act of seeing God in Christ whether in this life or in the life to come is an act of life for the soule liveth in the Ocean Sea and bosome of a fair eternall truth But doth it act there yea it doth and the Scripture expresseth its acting by seeing God drinking the fountain of life Then thâ— soule thus in Christ drinketh in love and milketh and sucketh in the soule-reioycing irradiations of Christ and Christ letting out the breathings of the sweetness of his excellency on the face of the soul draweth and sucketh in reciprocally acts of admiration and wondering Cant. 2.8 The voice of my beloved behold he cometh leaping upon the mountaines and skipping on the hils behold is a word of wonder 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed on us Not love onely but the manner and the kinde of the Fathers love in Christ is a worlds wonder and 2 Thess. 1.10 Christ when he cometh shall be wondered in them that beleeve 2. Then again when wee see and injoy the drawing lovelinesse of Christ hee as the fountaine and well of life powreth in in our intellectuall love and in the glancings and rayes of our understanding acts of divine light lumpes of fresh love from the spring of heavens love and the soule openeth its mouth wide and taketh in the streames of Christs nectar hony and milke his consolations and love breathings and in his light we seeing light and in his love feeling love he maketh out light and love as it were coeternall with borrowed eternitie and we goe along with the out-shinings of Christs bright countenance to shine in borrowed light to flame in borrowed coals of love and as Christ is said to feed his flock among the Lilies the garden of Christ his Church being the common pasture for the lambes of the flock so he feeds the soules of the Saints that enjoyeth him with the marrow fatness and dainties of his light and love that shine in his face even as the oyle feeds the lampe but with this difference Christs dainties are not lessened because wee feed upon them as the oyle is consumed with burning Pos. 10. There is a living and solacing of the soule in Christ even to saciety in this enjoying of Christ. Hence 1. Love giveth strong leggs and swift wings to the soule to persue an union with Christ. Love putteth the hand to the bottome of the desire and draweth with strong coards the lover to it we have heard of Christs invitation Come to me But suppose Christ had never outed his love in such a love-expression Come to me Christ himselfe is such a drawing object that beauty the smell of his garments his mountaine of myrrhe and hill of Frankincense the Sea and rivers of salvation that capacious and wide heaven of redemption are intrinsecally and of themselves crying drawing and ravishing objects as gold is dumbe and cannot speake yet the beauty and gaine of it cryeth Come hither poore and bee made rich 2. Loves wings move sweetly
otherwise for the Apostle avoucheth the Gospel is preached the promise of salvation published to all that call on the Lords Name v. 12. Be they Jewes or Grecians that is Gentiles and beleeve they must or else they cannot pray and needs they must heare or then they cannot beleeve and hear they cannot except God send Preachers But God hath sent Preachers with pleasant feet to both Iewes and Gentiles as the Prophets Isaiah and Nahum fâ—retold v. 13 14 15. and they have not all obeyed v. 16 17 18. But it may be said They have not all heard the Gospel preached this must certainly excuse the Gentiles if they beleeve not having never heard of Christ how can they beleeve as it is v. 14. It s a rationall excuse I cannot sin in not beleeving the Gospel saith the Gentile yea and Christ frees them from the sin of unbeliefe also Ioh. 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them and so if they had not had a Lord Speaker from heaven they had not had sin That is they should have ben free of the Gospel-sin of unbelief but now they have no cloak for their sin Now they cannot say Lord we cannot beleeve a Gospel never spoken to us by any nor heard of by us But sure the Iewes heard these creatures and works of God that preached his glory Psal. 19.6 And if they preach Christ objectively as Amyrald and other Arminians fancie then the not hearing and not obeying the Gospel thus preached had been their sin though Christ or his Apostles had never spoken the Gospel which is contrary to Christs word Ioh. 15.22 And contrary to Paul how shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard by the preaching of a sent Minister who subjectively and vocally must preach the Gospel But to return to the state of the question 4. So much of God is revealed to all even to those who never heard of Christ as serves to make all unexcusable for that knowing willingly and knowingly they glorifie not God as God Rom. 1.19 20 21. 5. All within the visible Church have meanes sufficient in their kinde in genere mediorum externorum to save them 6. As none can be saved by the light of nature nor ever any used or could use it so far forth as to improve it for their sufficient preparation to receive the tidings of the Gospel either from Men or Angels sent to preach to them or by any inspiration bringing the sense or things signified in the Gospel so saved they cannot bee by any name under heaven but by the Name of Christ that is Christ named preached and revealed in the Gospel Act. 4.10 11 12. Joh. 14.6 Heb. 11.6 Joh. 5.40 and 1 Joh. 5.12 He that hath the Son hath life and hee that hath not the Son hath not life 7. The question is whether or no God so farre forth willeth desireth intendeth that all and every one within and without the visible Church Tartarians and Indians who never by any rumor hard of Christ not excepted that hee giveth them sufficient meanes and helps of a common and universall grace which if they would use well the Lord should so reward pro-move or increase whether out of decencie or a congruous disposition of goodness or of equity or of free promise or any obligation so farre as to send the Gospel to them and bestow on them a larger measure of saving and internall grace by which they should if they so would bee converted to the Faith of Christ and saved We deny Arminians affirme 2. Whether the Lord from eternity late Arminians are for time-election hath absolutely without any provision in or pre-science or fore-knowledge of good works Faith perseverance in both or of condition reason cause merit qualification in some certaine and definite persons rather then others predestinated and chosen them to glory and life eternall And all the meanes conducing to this end and that of meere free grace because he so willeth or if the Lord passe no definite compleat peremptorie and irrevocable decree to save some certain persons while he forsees them expiring and dying in faith and holy conversation Arminians hold that the Lords decree of election of men to glory is generall conditionall incompleat changeable while he forsees they have ended their course in the Faith and then peremptorily and irrevocably he passeth a fixed decree to save such and not others we deny any such loose decrees in the Almighty and beleeve that of free grace he chuseth some absolutely without conditions in them or respect to any good foreseene to be in them rather then in others because He hath mercy on whom hee will and hardens whom he will Rom. 9.17.18 3. Upon this generall indefinite revocable and conditionall good will and intention of God to save all and every one whether or no did the Father give his Sonne and the Sonne dye for all and every one intending absolutely to impetrate and obtaine to all and every one of mankinde remission of sinnes and especially expiation of sinne originall and all sins against the covenant of works and salvation to them all both within and without the visible Church and the opening of the gates of heaven so as God hath laid aside his anger for all these sins hath made all savable reconciliable that notwithstanding of divine Justices plea against men all and every one may according to the intention of God bee saved in his bloud so they would as they may and can beleeve in Christ we deny Arminans here affirme 2. The mind of Arminians Arminians runne upon six Universalities 1. They say God beareth to all and every man of what kind soever an equall universall and Catholike good will yâ—a to Esau Pharaoh Judas as to Jaakob Moses and Peter to save them all so as this love is not stinted to any certaine persons precisely and absolutly loved and chosen to salvation 2. That there is a Catholicke price an universall ransome given by Christ dying on the Crosse for all and every one an Attonement made and a Redemption purchased in Christs bloud by which all and every one Pharaoh Judas Cain all the heathens Tartarians Americans Virginians that never heard of Christ are made savable and reconcilâ—iable and God made placable and exorable to them so aâ— though they be lost in the first Adam yet have they a new venture of heaven and in Christs death the Lord hath a generall antecedent and priâ—â—ry intention to save all without exception yet no more to save Moses and Peter then Judas and Pharaoh Yea that the fruit of Christs death and the effect of it may stand though all and every one of mankinde were eternally lost and not one person saved 3. As there was a Catholicke forfeiture of all so there is a second covenant of free grace made with all and every one of Adams sonnes with promises of free grace a new heart righteousnesse and
and am known of mine I know them and they know mee Sure it is Relative to that 2 Tim. 2.19 Neverthelesse the foundation of God stands sure having this seale the Lord knoweth them that are his Sure the sheep that Christ dyeth for Joh. 10. are the sheepe that hee giveth his life for vers 11. and dyes for and these 1. vers 10. That have life in abundance 2. The sheep known in the Lords eternall Predestination and known by Christ in time 3. Such as he mindes to call in that there may be one Shepherd and one sheep-fold vers 16. 4 Such as are his owne sheepe as hee goeth before and they follow him and know his voice vers 4. and will not follow a stranger vers 5. 5 Such as heare not a stranger vers 5. but vers 27 heare and know the voice of Christ are known of him and follow Christ. 6 Such sheep as are gifted with life eternall and shall never perish and cannot fall away no more then there can be a greater then the Father that can plucke them out of the hands of Christ for vers 28.29 the standing of these that shall not be plucked out of the Fathers hand depends on the greatnesse and power of Christs Father None can plucke them out of my hand saith Christ Why The Father that gave them me is greater then all Then he must be greater then Christs Father who plucks one of the Sheep of Christ out of his hand and where dwells he who is greater then the Father Neither in heaven nor hell And for such Christ dyed 6. Hee dyed for such sheepe as infallibly beleeves because he saith vers 26. Yee beleeve not Why Because yee are not of my sheepe then certainely they should beleeve if they were of such sheepe as Christ dyed for I shall never beleeve that this Reply can stand David saith and Job saith Thou Lord formedst me in the wombe and the Church Esai 64. Thou art the Potter and we the clay but it will never follow therefore God hath created none but David Job and his chosen Church so it follows not here Christ dyed for his sheep therefore he dyed for no other but his sheep 1. Because dying of sinners is a worke of meere grace bestowed onely on some as all the Texts that ever Papists Jesuits Arminians alledge Resrict ever these that Christ dyed for to some certaine persons to beleevers the sheepe of Christ these for whom Christ is an Advocate at the right hand of Gâ—d c. And there is not a Text in Scripture in Old or New Testament in which wee may not limit the persons on whom grace universall and redemption in Christs bloud are pretended to be bestowed to the elect and beleevers onely these places I except in which some are said to be Redeemed in profession onâ—ly as may be demonstrated and therefore this answer of 〈◊〉 is peâ—iâ—io principii a begging of what they cannot prove And Vers. 2. upon the same reason because God created man on the earth and dyed for men and for the world as the Scripture saith they might inferre as God created not mâ—n onâ—ly but Angels beasts birds fishâ—s trees Sunne Moone so Christ dyed not for men onely but for Angels Devils beasts birds fishes trees yea for wormes creeping thinâ—s and all and every creature for if wee regard the free decree of God Devils are as capable of Redemption by Christ as men if so God had purposed from eternity and in regard of the same decree the Reprobate can no more bee saved aâ—d beleeve of their owne strength then stonâ—s of themselves can be sonnes of Abraham except God elevate them above their nature and Omnipotency effectuate the same 2. There be some certaine men oppignotated and laid in pledge in Christs hand 2 Tim. 2.13 Now all are not so but certaine dâ—fiâ—ite 〈◊〉 is onely 3. These 〈◊〉 the Lord hath chosâ—n to life are given of the Father in Christ Ioh. 10.26 Ioh. 6.37 Ioh. 1â— 2.6.8.9.12.24 And all such are raised up at the last day and â—â—ved Ioh. 6. â—7 â—9 and Christ cannot lose one of them Ioh. 17.9 yea hee can 〈…〉 of them neither soule nor body neither a 〈◊〉 nor a piece of an ear of his sheepe as he speakes Amos 3. so Christ speaketh Ioh. 6.39 yea 1 Cor. 15.23 Every man shall be raised in his owne order vers 24. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdome to the Fatâ—er He presents his conquested onâ—s not one lad or the most despised girle fall by or are miscounted in the telling we have often groundlesse jealousies touching Christ O hee hath forgotten mee but that is to say Christ is not faithfull in his charge and the Father gave so many thâ—usands to his keeping but he loosed the largest halfe of them now to bee given of the Father to Christ must note Châ—â—â—ts accepting of the recept of them by dying for those so given of the Father to him for another way of giving buâ—â—ither in electioâ— from eternitie or of sitting them in time for actuall beleeving no man knowes but either wayes all given are raised up at the last day Ioh. 6.39 and so all redeemed must either be chosen from eternitie or then in time beleeve and so be raised at the last day then there can be none Redeemed but such as are chosen and saved Master Moores universall attonement pag. 4.5 Tels us of a twofold reconciliation or redemption on which Christ effected in his owne body with God for men This is perfect and accomplished fully so as the Father is well pleased with his Sonne Matth. 3.17 and this is done by shâ—dding of blood There is a Reconciliation Redemption and Salvation which Christ effecteth by the Spirit in men to God and this is by washing and blood-sprinkling his proofes after shall be heard Thus the belgick Arminians explain the matter Script Sinodal ar 2. They say the former redemption and reconciliation is the pacifying of the offended partie or such an action or passion by which satisfaction so farre forth is made to the offended partie that he is willing to returne in favour and grace with the offender and the effect of this reconciliation is the obtaining of the favour of God that is the restoring of men to such a state in which God without impeachment of revenging justice according to the tender affection of his mercy of new may and will bestow his benefits and transact with man touching his salvation and the conditions thereof after the way and manner seemeth good to God whether by a covenant of works or of grace or of commanding faith in God or faith in an Angel if so it seeme good to him And by his law the affection of saving man which is in God from a naturall instinct of mercy doth breake forth as it were in a full and compleat purpose of Gods will to save now when the impediment is
interest and propriety in these for whom he gave himselfe a ransome as Luk. 22 20. for many Matth. 20.28 Matth. 26.28 So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth in all Greek Authors insinuate Joh. 6.51 Joh. 10.11 Rom. 5.6 such an interest Object 1. But the reason were frivolous we are to pray for all except we know that God willeth salvation to all how can we with the certainety of faith pray for all It must bee a doubting faith and so no faith at all Answ. But seeing God will not have Nero Persecutors Apostates Rebellious unbeleevers men obstinate against the Gospel such as Paul was before his conversion to be excluded out of our prayers What certaintie of faith have Arminians to pray for all Or for the twenty or hundreth part of all mankinde This therefore is denyed Christ gave himselfe for as many as we are to pray for but we are to pray for all without exception The proposition and the assumption both are false nor doth our prayers for men depend on the certitude of Gods decree of election of men to glory which is Gods secret will not knowne to us to whom the Lambes booke of life is not opened but on the revealed will of God commanding us to pray for all that sinne not to death but conditionally and with a speciall reserve of the Lords decrees of Election and Reprobation and this in effect is to pray for the Elect only nor am I warranted by the Word of God the rule of my prayers to pray for any others Nor is there promise precept or practise in Scripture to pray for all and every one of man-kind Therefore I retort the Argument thus wee are to thinke God willeth so many to be saved and his Sonne to give himselfe a ransome for so many as wee are warranted to pray for that they may be saved but we are not warranted to pray for all and every one that they may be saved but only for the Elect. Ergo God will have them onely to be saved and his Son to give himselfe a ransome for them onely Object 2. Judgement of charity is no ground of our prayers We have no charity to beleeve all and every one shall be saved nor have wee any faith or certainety in these prayers Answ. I may have judgement of charity touching this or that man to pray for him but this judgement is a motive to my affection not a foundation to my faith My faith is bottomed on a word of precept to pray for the salvation of all conditionally but not for the salvation of any but for my owne onely absolutly Object 3. God will have as many to be saved as hee will have to come to the knowledge of the truth But he will have all to come to the knowledge of the truth Answ. The argument is strong for us the Apostle speaketh of the Gospel-truth but he will not have the Gospel preached to Samaritans Mat. 10. to Bithinians and thousands others 2. He wil not open the hearts of housands that heare the Gospel because he will Mat. 11.28 Rom. 9.17 and many he blindeth and judicially hardneth Math. 13.14 Joh. 1◠37 38. Esai 6.9 10. Acts 28.24 25 26 27. Object 4. It s uncertaine whether yee pray for Magistrats as such or for vulgar men as such and uncertaine whether yee pray for this or that ranke Answ. It is certaine we are to pray for Kings Subjects Men Women Jewes Gentiles reserving the Lords decrees to his owne Soveraigne liberty Object If we are to pray but for some because God willeth the salvation of some he should have said we are to pray for no man for the farre largest part of the world are lost Answ. This is to censure the Holy Ghosts speaking not us Upon the same ground a Physician in a Citie cannot bee called the healer of all diseased nor a Professor a teacher of Phylosophy to all in the Citie because many in the City dye of the Pest and the twentieth person remaine ignorant of Philosophie if God will have all to be saved that he predestinate to life hee is rightly said to will all men to bee saved and in that sense wee are to pray that all may bee saved 2. God by his consequent will desireth the farre greatest part of the world to be damned Ergo By the Arminian way hee should say God willeth not any man to bee saved nor any to come to the knowledge of the truth but that all may be damned and because they say there is in the Almighty an Antecedent naturall affection and desire that justice may be satifyed in Men and Angels which affection is in order of nature prior and before Gods full peremptory and deliberate will of damning all that are finally obstinate as there is a naturall antecedent will in God to call invite to repentance offer Christ to all and will the salvation of all and every one which is afore and precedent to his peremptory compleat and irrevocable decree of electing to glory all that God foreseeth shall dye in the faith of Christ. Upon the same ground it may well bee said GOD willeth the damnation of all and every one of mankind and the salvation and repentance of none at all and that Christ dyed upon no intention naturall to redeeme or save any but upon a conditionall and naturall desire that justice might be declared in the just destruction of all for sure all Gods naturall affections and desires of justice are as naturall and essentiall to him and so as universally extended toward the creature as his desires and antecedent natural affections of mercy Object 5. The sense of the word All appeares to be of Adam and all that come by propagation of him 1. The word Men is used for Adam and all his Sons Hebr. 9.27 2. Often in the fullest sense not regenerated nor wholly reprobated are called Men Job 11.11 12. Psal. 12.1 and 4.2 and 53.2 3 Beleevers are called Men Acts 1.11 1 Cor. 3.21 22. In regard of passions Acts 14.15 Of carnall walking 1 Cor. 3.3 Yet they are called something more Sonnes of God Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 3.1 Saints 1 Cor. 1.1 Brethren faithfull Ephes. 1.1 Christians Acts 11.26 Some who have heardned their heart are called Men but something more reprobate Jer. 6.28 30. Seed of the Serpent Gen. 3.15 Children of Belial Deut. 1.3 Of the Devil Joh. 8 4◠and with an Emphasis the wicked Psal. 9.17 Answ. In these Grammattications M. Moor sheweth how weake his cause is and how dubious from the word men and all for Heb. 9.27 It s said it s appointed for all men to die and the Holy Ghost insinuateth clearly that Christ died for all men that die in the very next words v. 28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many he saith not all men Observe the change of words 2. We deny not but all men in Scripture signifieth all descended of the first Adam by propagation Ergo
saved yet the Lambe of God taketh away the sinnes of the world So Esai 6.7 Thine iniquity is taken away and thy sinne purged this is no halfe pardon such as Esaiah had before the Lord touched his lips 1 Joh. 3.5 And yee know that he was manifested to take away our sinnes Iohn speaketh of the taking away of the sinnes of us Iohn and the Saints who were loved Vers. 1. with a wonderfull love to bee called the Sonnes of God us whom the World knoweth not vers 2. us who shall be like Christ when he appeareth Arminians are obliged to give us parallel places where the redemption of all and every man and Christs naked power and desire to be friends with all men and to make any covenant of grace or works as he pleaseth is called the taking away the sinnes of the world and yet the whole world may possibly dye in their sinnes and not a man be saved the taking away of the worlds sinnes to us is the compleat pardoning of them Remission of sinnes in his bloud Ephes. 1.7 Col. 1.14 Blotting out of transgressions Esai 4â— 25 as a thicke cloud Esai 44.23 a not remembring of sinnes Isai 43.25 Ier. 31. â—4 Such a taking away of sinnes as is promised in the covenant of grace to the house of Iudah to the Church under the Messiah that heareth the Gospel Ier. 31.34 Hebr. 8.8 9 10 11 12. Rom. 11.26 27. Esai 59.20 This is the taking away of the sinnes of the world a new world in whose inner parts the Lord writeth his Law and with whom the Lord maketh an everlasting covenant never to turne away from them Jer. 31.33 34 5 36 37. in whom the Lord putteth his Spirit and in whose mouth he puteth his Word and in the mouth of their seed and their seeds seede Esai 59.20 21. The Arminian taking away of sins is of all and every one of Adams seed of such as never heard of a Covenant of a Word of a Spirit of a Seed a holy Seed of a new heart Finally the taking away of the sinnes of the world is the removing of them as farre from us as the East is from the West Psal. 103.12 bestowed on these that feare the Lord vers 11. and are pitied of the Lord as the Father pitieth the Sonne and the subduing of our iniquities and the casting of our sinnes in the depths of the Sea Mich. 7.19 â—0 a mercy bestowed only on the remnant of the Lords inheritance The Arminian taking away of sins is a broad pardon of sins to all the world let them shew Scripture for theirs as we doe for ours and cary it with them Object 15. Though Reconciliation bee purchased to all and every one yet it is not necessary that it bee preached to all and every one but onely it is required that God bee willing it bee preached to all now it is free to God before he be willing to make offer of the purchased reconciliation to all to require afore hand such acts of obedience and dueties which being performed hee may publish the Gospel to them or being not performed hee may bee unwilling to publish the Gospel to them Yea though reconciliation be purchased to all yet its free to God to communicate the benefits of his death upon what termes hee thinketh good And Christ died saith Master Moore to obtaine a lordship over all and a power to save beleevers and destroy such as will not have him to raigne over them as wee heard before Answ. 1. We have in this Doctrin that Argument yeelded God commanded to preach to all and every one Ergo Christ died for all and every one For 1. The consequence is true absolutely by the Arminians doctrine Christ absolutely died for all and every one without prescribing any condition to those for whom he dies he saith not my sonne dieth to purchase reconciliation to all upon condition all beleeve or perform some other dutie but beleeve they or beleeve they not the 〈◊〉 is payed and salvation purchased for all without exception but the antecedent is not true but upon condition God is not willing the Gospel bee preached to all but to such as perform such conditions 2. If they perform not the condition Christ should have said preach not the Gospel to all nations nor to every creature but onely to such as yee finde fit hearers of the Gospel and have performed such acts of obedience as I require for conditionall threatnings are set downe in the Gospel as well as conditionall promises he that beleeveth shall be saved he that beleeveth not shall bee damned But in Old or New Testament Arminians never shew us where the preaching of the word of Grace is referred to our free will Doe this O Ammonits O Indians and the glad tyding shall come to you if yee doe not this ye shall never heare the Gospel Arminians say God sendeth his Grace and Gospel both genti minus dignae indigniori negat to the unworthy Nation and denyeth both to the worthier 3. Arminians say in Script Synod Dordr pag. 6. Lex non lata aut non intellecta cum intelligi non possit non obligat a law not made or not understood when it cannot be understood doth not oblige then God cannot deny a salvation and the benefit of a preached Gospel to Indians though both were purchased in Christ if they never heard as hundreths of Nations could by no rumor heare or dreame of Christ and the Gospel of Christ. 4. How can God with the same naturall and half-will equally will that all bee saved when hee absolutly without merit or condition willeth the meanes of salvation to some and denyeth the meanes of salvation to the farre largest part of mankinde for want of a condition unpossible because it neither was nor could be known to them 5. By the Arminian way sinne originall is no sin it bringeth wrath and condemnation on no man God beginneth upon a new score and the reckoning of the covenant of Grace to count with all men and God is so reconciled to all mortall men and transacteth with them in such a way of free grace that hee will punish no man for any new breach except committed actually by such as are come to age as have the use of reason and are obliged to beleeve in Christ. pag. 285 286 287. Dordr scrip Synod Yet hath God decreed never to reveale any such gracious transactions to millions of men that better deserve to heare these secrets of grace then thousands to whom they are proclaimed in their ears ere they can discerne the right hand by the left This Arminians say was Gods dispensation Matth. 11. with Capernaum and Tyrus and Sidon But it will bee found that Arminians deny the prescience and foreknowledge of God 6. Most abominable and comfortlesse must the doctrine of the death of our Lord Iesus be if Christ died onely to bee a Lord and such a Lord as hee might have power without
that differenceth the loved of God from all others Psal. 87.2 Psal. 1.6.8 otherwise all the world should in regard of this generall and antecedent and conditionall love of God bee so the beloved of God as Christ in the song of Solomon esteemeth the Spouse his love his welbeloved It s a love better then life Psal. 6â— 3 and the dowrie Christ bestoweth on his spouse Hos. 2.19 now the Scripture no where speaketh of that conditionall love which the Lord beareth to Heathens Reprobates and to all Men and Angels 5. Such as the Lord so loved as hee hath redeemed them from perishing he hath redeemed them from sinne and Gentilisme to wit from this present evill world Gal. 1.4 yea the blood of the Lambe unspoted and undefiled hath bought them from their vaine conversation received by tradition from their fathers 1 Pet. 1.18 yea from fornication that they should bee members of Christ temples of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.20 yea Christ bare their sinnes in his owne body on the tree that they should live to righteousnesse Now all and every one of mankinde Heathen and Turks are not thus bought with a price and delivâ—â—â—d from idolatry blasphemy killing of childâ—â—â— to thâ—ir god from the world of Gentilisme 1. Thâ—y livâ— in these sinnes as serving God in them the Gospel nevâ—â— forbade thâ—m any such siâ—nâ—s in regard thâ—y never heard the Gospel 2 They cannot sinne on a nâ—w score or a new reckning these being to them no sinnes against the Gospel but against the law written in their heart 3. There is a pâ—ice then given for all the reprobate vice reproborum it is 〈…〉 as they had payed the price to redeeme them from sinne and unbeliefe yea from finall impenitencie against the Gospel If this bee a sinne as it is the sinne of sinnes Christ must beare it on the tree 1 Pet. 1.24 The lambe of God must take it away Ioh. 1.29 Except it were possible finall unbeliefe were pardonable without shedding of blood Heb. 10. Now here the ransome payed but the captive is never delivered for the reprobate die in their sinnes Ioh. 8.21 There bee some say there is a ransome given for these Gospel-sinnes of the reprobate conditionally so they beleeve Anâ—w That is they are freed from finall impenitencie so they bee freed from finall impenitencie is this a wife bargain 2. Where is there is all the Word a warrant that Christ layd downe his life for his sheep conditionally so he foresaw they would be his sheep so they would beleeve and repent Now this hee could not doe for Christ out of deliberation and his Fathers eternall counsell absolutely gratis freely diâ—d for these he died not for those that he foresaw would never fulfill the condition nunquam positâ conditione nunquam ponitur conditionatum 6. Christ bought by his blood of the eternall Covenant all the Jewels of the Covenant all things that belong to life and goâ—linesse and all spirituall blessings 2 Pet. 1.3 Ephes. 1.3 A new heart and a new Spirit Ezech. 36.26 Jer. 31.33 34 35 36. Ezek. 11 19 20. He bought all that God giveth to us then he must have purchased faith Phil. 1.29 Joh. 6.29 and if he was made a Prince to give repentance and remission then to give faith for it is a grace above nature and out of this fountain we have grace for grace Ioh. 1.14 Now this is not given to all men 7. All these graces are particular 1. Election to glory is particular Few are chosen Mat. 22.14 Joh. 10.26.29 Ephes. 1.4 Rom. 9.11 The promise is particular to the sons of the promise Rom. 9.8 9. made to Christ and his seed only Gal. 3.16 17 18. Gal. 4.22 23 c. the calling particular Isai. 55.1 2. Matth. 11.27 28. Acts 2.39 the Covenant particular and takes in only the House of Judah the elect and such as cannot fall away Ier. 31.34 35 c. and 32.39 40. Isai. 54.10 and 59.19 20. The surety of the Covenant Christ Heb. 7.22 promised to be King over the House of David over his people only the intention of God particular to a foreknown people only Rom. 11.1 The circumference and extent of Grace then cannot be so wide as to take in all nor can Redemption be universall because conditionall For 1. Arminians make Election conditionall but they deny it in words to be universall further glorification is conditionall justification conditionall upon condition of Faith but because the condition never is all men have not faâ—th therefore glorification and justification is particular and redemption on the same ground must be particular none are actually redeemed but the beleevers so as glorification actuall the decree of glorifying is another thing and absolute and Election to glory are commensurable the one not larger then the other Rom. 8.29 30. how can Redemption which is a mid-linke between both be of a wider Sphear to take in all for 1 Thes. 5.9 Gods counsell set us on Christ as Redeemer and gives us to Christ. 8. These two Christ redeemeth all and Christ intendeth to redeem all are most different Now Gods intention to redeem all if they beleeve suspendeth either redemption or the intention of God to redeem If the former be said redemption of all is no Redemption except all beleeve but all doe not beleeve If the latter God must wave and hang by his intention in millions of soules and cannot fixe his foot to be peremptory in his intentions except they beleeve and he seeth they shall never beleeve for he knoweth what is in man and beholdeth the thoughts a far off Yea as I said elsewhere if we speak properly in reference to God the very promises of the Gospel are not conditionall because both the condition and the thing that falls under the condition depend on his owne absolute will and free gift if a father promise to his child an inheritance upon condition the child pay him ten thousand crowns and the Father only do give and can give the child these ten thousand crownes we cannot say this is a bargain between the father and the son that leans upon conditions especially if we suppose as the case is between God and the creature that this father can and doth indeclinably determine the will of his son to consent and to give back againe to his father this sum of money and to consent to the bargain there is here no condition relating to the father but he does all freely Beleeving is a condition and life eternall is conditionatum a thing that falleth under promise but both dâ—pend upon the absolute free and irresistible will of the Lord as there is no condition here properly so called either laid upon the will or limiting the externall action of God 9. Hence the promises of the Gospel are indefinite not universall and in the Lords purpose and intention made with the Elect onely not with the Reprobate at all for when God saith if Iudas Cain Pharaoh
beleeve they shall be saved the Lords purpose being â—o deny to them the grace of beleeving without which it is unpossible they can beleeve the promise in Gods purpose is not made with them He that so willeth what he promiseth upon a condition which he that so willeth only can doe and work and yet will not do or work the condition he doth indeed not will to the party what is so promised if John send Peter to work in his garden upon condition that if he worke he shall give him a talent a day and in the mean while Iohn onely can give to Peter strength of legs and armes and body to work can determine his consent to the work and yet refuse to give strength and to win his consent to the work Sure he never wiâ—led either to give him a talent for his work nor intended hee should work at all Hence I arâ—ue it is against the wisedome of God to intend and will that the Reprobate be redeemed pardoned saved upon a condition which he himself only can work by his grace and absolutely and irresistibly will not work Now in Scripture such a thing is argued not to bee done because the Scripture must be fulfillâ—â— and the decree of God and his will fulâ—â—lled as Christs bones upon this ground could not be broken and such a thing is done that the Scripture and so the will and decree of God might be fulfilled so that which is never done is simply Gods will it shall never be done that which is done is simply Gods will it must be I mean either his permissive or approving will and the will of God revealing what is the duty of Reprobates though it never be done arguâ—s it was not simply the will of God hence that voluntas signi in which God reveales what is our dutie and what we ought to doe not what is his decree or what he either wil or ought to doe is not Gods will properly but by a figure only for commands and promises and threatnings revealed argue not the will and purpose decree or intention of God which are properly his will 10. It is against the wisedome of God to intend the actuall Redemption and salvation of all and every one and not to will nor work such conditions which onely he himself can work and are in his power only and without the which the creature cannot be redeemed and saved but he neither will nor doth work faith in all then he never intended the actuall redemption and salvation of all and every one Hence what ever wanton and lascivious reason can object against absolute Reprobation the absolute Redemption of some few a particular attonâ—ment of some few equally fighteth with the opinion of adversaries as against ours they say 1. God intends the eternall destruction of the innocent sinlesse and greatest part of mankind 2. Mercie bowels of compassion by your particular absolute Redemption is extended to few and all the rest of the lost world left to sincke eternally notwithstanding of the infinite and boundlesse love and man-kindnesse of God It s answered these fall with equall strength of wanton reason upon conditionall and universall Redemption or Gods conditionall and universall will to save all and every one for say that a father did foresee if he beget twenty sonnes that eighteen of them shall be cast in a river of fire to be burnt quick where they shall bee tormented ten thousand yeares ever dying and not able to finde death to end their miseries and that they may be Kings in great riches and honour upon a condition of such and such a carriage of them in their education and young yeares which this father can easily worke with one word yet hee willingly begets these children hee can worke such a condition in them as they may all be kings yet deliberatly this he will not doe but acts so upon the will of these children as he knowes indeclinably the greatest part of them all shâ—ll be tormented for ten thousand yeares in this extreme fire Who can say 1. that this father quantum in se as farre as he can hath redeemed all and every one of his children from ten thousand yeares paine Who can say this father intended and willed the life and honour of these eighteene children when as hee might with no paine to himselfe most easily have wrought the condition in them which he wrought in others and would not Hence if there must bee a mystery in the Gospel and the Lords waies and thoughts must be above ours as farre as the heaven is above the earth if the Lord did foresee the greatest part of mankind and many legions of Angels should be cast in chaines of darknesse and in a lake of fire and brimstone for ever and ever 1. Vaine reason would say why did hee create them if hee fore-saw their misery would bee so deplorable and how can he earnestly and ardently with prayers obtestations wishes threatnings precepts promises desire their eternall salvation 2. If he could have hindred them to sinne as no question he could without hurting Adams freewill and without strangling the nature of free obedience in reference to threatning of ill and promising of good and life as wee see all Angels being equally under one law he kept some from sinne of free grace and permitted others to fall in eternall misery if he could have hindered them to sinne how created he them and gave them a law which he saw they would violate and make themselves eternally miserable 3. When the same Gospel was preached to some yea and to a huge multitude within the visible Church if the Lord willed all and every one to be saved and gave his Sonne to redeeme all and every one was there not an eternall and absolute will most unlike and disparous to some beside others when as he tooke a way of working with the Gospel preached on some which hee saw would eternally indeclinably and inevitably save them and a contrary way of working with others which hee foresaw would be fruitlesse ineffectuall and null and tend to their sadder condemnation now can he will both the redemption and salvation of these that he moveth ineffectually to obey and also efficaciously to obey Corvinus saith in this He willeth all ex aequo equally to be saved in regard of his affection and will to all but he willeth not all equally to be saved ex parte boni voliti in regard of the thing willed for he willeth the Gospel to be preached to some and of these that heare the Gospel he gives more grace yea more grace actu secundo efficaciously effectuall and denies both to other Nations and people and with this distinction he willeth and willeth not equally ex aequo the salvation of all But this is Petitio principii the disparitie of favours bestowed on persons and Nations doe argue in Scripture disparitie of good-wills in the Lord as because God sent his Law and
onely begotten Sonne into the world that wee might live through him 5. The Scripture casts out a longer rope yet that thou mayest reach to Christ art thou not a Man if thou be not a sinner nor a visible Saint nor a bruised Reed thou art one of mankinde see the Gospel will not have thee to dispaire or to foment and harbour strange and far-off thoughts of Christ Tit. 3.4 But after that the kindnesse and love of God our Saviour to man appeared he saved us 1 Tim. 2.3 God our Saviour will have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all men to be saved 6. The farthest from Christ must be creatures that are nothing but bits of the world now the name World is a frameder and a farther-off word then the name of Man or Sinners it s the farest off-word for fallen Angels are members and citizens of the World therefore the Gospel is preached to the World Christ is brought in in the Gospel as a World-lover as if he were a whole World-Saviour he takes away the sinnes of the world Ioh. 1.29 He so loves the world Joh. 3.16 He giveth his flesh for the life of the world Joh. 6.51 In this Grammar of the Holy Ghost observe wee by the way for resoluton the wisdome of God in framing the words of the Gospel It cannot be said that God loved all the world in Christ his beloved and all and every sinner and all the race of mankinde Yet laying downe this ground that God keepeth up in his minde the secrets of Election and Reprobation till he in his owne time be pleased to reveale them the Lord hath framed the Gospel-offer of Christ in such indefinite words and so generall yet without all double dealing lying or equivocating for his owne good pleasure is a rule both of his doings and speaches As 1. seldome doth the Lord open Election and Reprobation to men till they by grace or in the order of his justice open both the one and the other in their owne waies and therefore he holdeth out the offer of Christ so as none may cavell at the Gospel or begin a plea with Christ. 2. Seldome doth the Gospel speake who they be that are Elect who Reprobate yet doth the Gospel offer no ground of presuming on the one hand or of despairing on the other For if thou bee not a beleever nor a weake reed nor a Saint yet thou arâ— a sinner if not that thou art a man if not that thou art one of the world and though the Affirmative conclude not I am a sinner I am a man I am one of the world but it followeth not therefore I am elected to glory or Ergo I am ransomed of the Lord. Yet the Negative touching Reprobation holdeth I am a Sinner I am of the World I am a man hence it followeth not therefore I am a reprobate and therefore I have warrant to refuse the promise and Christ offered in the Gospel It followeth well therefore I must be humbled for sinne and beleeve in Christ there is roome left for all the Elect that they have no ground of standing aloofe from Christ and the rest never come and most willingly refuse to come nor have the Reprobate ground to quarrell at the decrees of God though they bee not chosen yet they are called as if they were chosen and they have no cause to quarrell at conjectures they have as faire a revealed warrant to beleeve as the Elect have they are men sinners of the world to whom Christ is offered why refuse they him upon an unrevealed warrant 4. The fourth ground of Christs good will to draw all men is that Christ goeth as farre in the dispensation of free grace as sinners as the chiefe of sinners Grace journies all along and can goe no further then Hell and Damnation Luk. 19.10 The Sonne of man came to seeke and to save that which is lost as if Christ would say is any man a sinner and who are not and a lost sinner see and behold I am a Saviour for that man Christ went as low downe to Hell in the freedome of grace to save as Zacheus in evill doing to destroy Mary Magdalen went as farre on toward Hell as seven Devils Grace in Christ went as farre on as to redeeme from seven Devils Manasseh as if he had intended to make sure worke of Hell runnes on to empawnd soule and salvation and gives himselfe to witchcraft observing of times to cause the streets of Hierusalem runne with bloud to all abominable idolatry mercy in the Lord went as neere hell to save him Paul goeth so farre on the mouth of the furnace as to waste the Church of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 8.3 to make heapes of dead men in the Church and there came nothing out of his nostrils for breathing and respiration Act. 9.1 but threatnings that is ripe purposes of bloud yea murthering of the Saints came out of his mouth with every word hee spoke but Christs free-grace pursues him hard and out-runnes him Christs grace came as it were a step below Paul and saved him 1 Tim. 1.14 And the grace of our Lord saith he was more or over-abundant in me through faith and love Jer. 3.1 And thou hast played the harlot with many companions or lovers yet returne to mâ—â—â— saith the Lord. It s here as if Christs rich grace and our extreme wickednesse should strive who should descend to the lowest roome in Hell the latter to destroy the former to save and here Christ defies the sinner to be more wicked then he can be gracious 5. Christ in the Gospel as a great Conquerour sends out Writs signed under his Excellencies hand come and meet me who will and be saved as farre as graced will can goe as farre goeth the good will of the conquering Prince Râ—vel 22.17 It s much worthy of observation how that sweet Evangelicke invitation is conceived Esai 55.1 Ho every one that thirsts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is alas or ah every one that thirsts come to the waters and he that hath no silver come buy and eat as if the Lord were grieved and said woe is me alas that thirsty soules should die in their thirst and will not come to the water of life Christ and drink gratis freely and live For the Interjection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ho is a marke of sorrowing as Ah or wo every one that thirsts Esai 1.4 Ah sinnefull nation or wo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the sinnefull nation Vers. 24. Ah I will ease me or alas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will ease me of my adversaries Jer. 22.18 They shall not say of Jehojachim ho or alas or woe to my brother ah Sister It expresseth two things 1. A vehemencie and a serious and unfamed ardencie of desire that we doe what is our duty and the concatenation of these two extreamely desired of God our comming to Christ and our salvation this morall connexion
betweene faith and salvation is desired of God with his will of approbation complacency and morall liking without all dissimulation most unfainedly and whereas Arminians say we make counterfeit fained and hypocriticall desires in God they calumniate and cavill egregiously as their custome is 2. The other thing expressed in these invitations is a sort of dislike griefe or sorrow its a speach borrowed from man for there is no disapointing of the Lords will nor sorrow in him for the not fulfilling of it or an earnâ—st nilling and hating dislike that these two should not goe along as approved efficatiously by us to wit the creatures obedience of Faith and life eternall God loveth approveth the beleeving of Hierusalem and of her children as a morall duty as the henne doth love to warme and nourish her chickens and he hateth with an exceeding and unfained dislike of improbation and hatred their rebellious disobedience and refusing to bee gathered but there is no purpose intention or decree of God holden forth in these invitations called his revealed will by which he saith he intendeth and willeth that all he maketh the offer unto shall obey and be saved But it s to bee observed that the revealed will of God holden forth to all called voluntas signi doth not hold forth formally that God intendeth decreeth or purposeth in his eternall counsell that any man shall actually obey either elect or reprobate it formally is the expression onely of the good liking of that morall and duty-conjunction betweene the obedience of the creature and the reward but holdeth forth not any intention or decree of God that any shall obey or that all shall obey or that none at all shall obey and what Arminians say of Christs intention to die for all and every one and of the Lords intention and Catholike good will to save all and every one to wit that these desires may be in God though not any be saved at all but all eternally perish which maketh the Lords desires irrationall unwise and frustraneous that we say with good reason of Gods good will called voluntas signi it might have its compleat and intire end and effect though not any one of men or Angell obey if there were not going along with this will of God another will and eternall decree and purpose in God of working by free grace in some chosen ones what the Lord willeth in his approving will and another decree in the which the Lord purposeth to deny his saving grace upon his absolute liberty to others that being left to the hardnesse of their own hearts they may freely disobey and bee the sole Authors of their owne damnation Now because Arminians deny any such two decrees in God but assert onely such as depend wholly in their fulfilling on the free will of Men and Angels and all the decrees of God may be frustrated and disappointed by Men and Angels as if the poore short-sighted creature not the Soveraigne Creator were carver and Lord of the decrees and Master of worke in fulfilling of these counsels Wee reject their Catholike intentions and decrees to save and redeeme all and every one which they vainely fancy to bee in God as repugnant to his will which is irrisistible and cannot misse its end 2. To his immutability which cannot be compelled to take a second port whereas hee cannot saile the first 3. To his Omnipotencie who cannot be resisted 4. To his happinesse who cannot come short of what his soule desires 5. To his wisdome who cannot ayme at an end and desire it with his soule and goe about it by such meanes as hee seeth shall bee utterly uneffectuall and never produce his end and not use these meanes which hee knoweth may and infallibly doth produce the same end in others Now this desire of approbation is an abundantly sufficient closing of the mouth of such as stumble at the Gospel being appointed thereunto and an expression of Christs good liking to save sinners Expressed in his borrowed wishes Deut. 5.29 O that there were such a heart in them that they would feare me and keepe my commandements Psal. 81.13 O that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel walked in my waies Which wish as relating to disobeying Israel is a Figure or Metaphore borrowed from men but otherwise sheweth how acceptable the duty is to God how obligatory to the creature 2. By the Lords expostulations Ezek. 18.31 Why will yee dye O house of Israel Verse 32. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dyes 3. In the Lords crying to sinners Prov. 1.20 Wisdome cries shee uttereth her voice in the streets The Word is to cry with strong shouting either for ioy Psalm 81.2 or sorrow Lament 2.19 which expresseth Christs desire to save sinners 6. For the ground and warrant of Christs willingnesse to save and draw sinners doe but consider 1. The words of the text I will draw all men to mee It is as if he would say I will baulk no Nation nor any man upon a nationall respect the first covenant to the Jews suffered a mighty exception What is God the God of the Jews onely Have all the Nations of the earth done with their part of Heaven and salvation but onely the narrow trinket and bit of the earth in poâ—relâ—â—â—le Iudea This made the Gospel despised and liable to sad and heavie calumnies Christ must have narrow bowels and must bee ebbe short and thin in free grace if the matter bee so Nay but Christ hath mercy for all men I will draw all men that is multitudes of Iews and Gentiles for that Christ draweth all and every one without exception and that by his death is against Scripture and experience but hee hath an all that he drawes Tit. 2.11 The grace of God hath appeared to all men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what grace the teaching grace of God that teacheth us to waite for the blessed hope and the appearance of the glory and of our Saviour Iesus Christ sure this must bee the preached Gospel now the Gospel by Scripture experience consent of Arminians never appeared in the least sound to all and every sonne of Adam then Christ must have another all a faire and numerous multitude whom he saves and drawes and this saith hee had a good will to save all and that his elect ones beleeve Revel 5.11 And I beheld and I heard the voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the beasts and the Elders and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands v. 12. Saying worthy is the Lambe Revel 7.9 After this I beheld and loc a great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lambe cloathed in white robes and palmes in their hands It is true in civill assemblies and judicatures Christ hath a few number yet hee hath a faire
our working and doing it was done by Christ with the Father all our work is no work of salvation but in salvation we receive all not doing any thing that we may receive more but doing because we receive so much and because we are saved and yet we are to work as much as if we were to be saved by what we doe because we should doe as much by what is done already for us and to our hands as if we were to receive it for what we did our selves So here is short worke saith the man Beleeve and be saved there are yet these grounds why salvation is so soon done 1. Because it was done before by Christ but not beleeved on before by thee till now 2. Because it is the Gospel-way of dispensation to assure anâ— passe over salvation in Christ to any that will beleeve it 3. There needs no more on our sides to worke or warrant salvation to us but to be perswaded that Iesus Christ died for us because Christ hath suffered and God is satisfied now suffering and satisfaction is that great worke of salvation And the man taking on him to determine controversies of Arminians touching the extent of free Grace whether Christ died for all in which questions I dare make Apology for his innocency that he is not guilty of wading too deep in them he would father on the Reformed Churches of Protestant Divines that we make this a rationall way of justice That God will meerly and arbitrarily damne men because he will so as God hath put every one under a state of Redemption and power of salvation and they are damned not from their own will but from Gods The opinion by Arminians is fathered upon that Apostolick light of the Church of Christ Eminent and divine Calvine and Saltmarsh will but second them that he may appear a star in the Firmament with others of some great magnitude But saith he the other way is Christ died only for his but is offered to all that his who are amongst this all might beleeve and though he died not for all yet none are excepted that is as he saith all and every one to whom Christ is preached elect or reprobate are to be perswaded that Christ died for them in particular and yet none are accepted but they that beleeve and none beleeve but they to whom it is given And having shown some dreames of his owne touching these controversies hee concludeth with a Truth I beleeve easily Thus have I opened though weakly the mystery Weakly but wilfully and daringly But Faith is formally no such perswasion as to be perswaded Every man is loved with an everlasting love chosen and redeemed in Christ for it changeth the whole Gospel in a lie Christ obligeth no man to beleeve an untruth Now all are charged to beleeve in the Son of God and Elect and Reprobate as there be of both sorts within the net of the Kingdome are not loved with an everlasting love nor did Christ die for them all 2. It s meer presumption not Faith that all Hypocrites fleshly men slaves to their lusts idolaters covetous men remaining such never broken with any Law-work should immediately beleeve Christ is their Saviour died for them and the Father loved them to salvation before the world was True it is before a sinner beleeve he is an unpardoned an ungodly and guilty sinner but that he is unbroken yea or unconverted before he beleeve I speak of order of Nature it s as unpossible as that a thristle can bring forth figs for then he should beleeve having no new heart in him which is the only principle of Faith 3. It s a more ingenuous opinion that Christ died for all and every one though it have no truth in it selfe then to hold that he died for the Elect only and yet oblige men as Antinomians doe against their conscience to beleeve he died for all and every one that are ingaged in the practise of beleeving 4. He that beleeveth not maketh God a liar then that which is to be beleeved must be an Evangelike truth 5. Faith layeth bands on all within the visible Church to be knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to thâ— acknowledgement of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ Col. 2.1 2. to be perswaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Rom. 8.37 38 39. To full assurance Heb. 10. without wavering or declining or bowing like a tottering wall Now sure all and every one within the visible Church to whom the command of beleeving comes Reprobate or Elect are not holden to have a full assurance that they are chosen in Christ to salvation and redeemed in his blood Assertion 2. The object of saving Faith required of all within the visible Church is 1. Christs faithfulnesse to save beleevers Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and the Apostle backs it with an Argument that saving faith must lean upon for he is faithfull that hath promised And Paul 1 Cor. 1.9 presseth the same God is faithfull by whom yee were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 2. We doe not read in the Old or New Testament that the decree purpose or intention of God to save and redeem persons in particular is the object of that saving Faith required in the Gospel For the second object of this Faith is the truth and goodnesse of that Mother promise of the Gospel Ioh. 3.16 and 5.25 that Gospel-record 1 Iohn 5.10 11 12. He that beleeveth hath life eternall and Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 To seek and to save the lost Luke 19 1â— that he came to save me in particular is apprehended by sense not by faith for the Election of me by name to glory and the Lords intention to die for me is neither promise nor precept nor threatning if it be a History that I must beleeve its good shew me Histories of particular men now to be beleeved except of the Antichrist the second comming of Jesus Christ to judge the world Election to glory is not held forth as a promise If yee doe this yee shall be elected to glory nor is the contrary holden forth as a threatning If ye beleeve not ye shall be reprobated nor does the Lord command me to be chosen in Christ to salvation before the foundation of the world nor doth he command all men within the visible Church to beleeve they are chosen to salvation or that any one Elect person should beleeve a thing as revealed which is not revealed when he is pleased to give to any Elect person the white stone and the new name and to give him Faith by which he chuseth Christ for his portion he is then and never till then to beleeve or rather by spirituall sense to apprehend that he
deals sincerely candidly with them for first he commands them to beleeve no intention in God to save them by the death of his Son nor saith he any such thing to them but only commandeth them to rely on Christ as an alsufficient Saviour Secondly God commands all the reprobate even by their way to beleeve that Christ in his death intended their salvation justification conversion and yet whereas God taketh wayes effectuall and such as he foreseeth shall be effectuall for the efficacious working of justification and conversion and actuall glorification of some few yet he taketh wayes which he knoweth shall be utterly ineffectuall for the salvation justification and conversion of all these reprobates and yet commandeth thâ—m to beleeve that he decree and intendeth their salvation and conversion with no lesse ardency and vehemency of serious affection then he doth intend the salvation and conversion of all that shall bee glorified Sure this we would call double dealing in men and the Scripture saith he is a God of truth Deut. 32. and the Lord who cannot lie Object If a rich Inne-keeper should dig a Fountain in his Field for all passengers thirsty and diseased which were able to cure them and quench their thirst and invite them all to come and drink and be cured upon condition they come and beleeve the vertue of the water to be such and yeâ— should intend and decree absolutely and irresistibly the tenth man invited should never be cured this Innekeeper should not deal sincerely with them So you make God to deal with sinners in the Gospel He doth all in inviting sâ—ck sinners to come and drinâ— life and salvation at Christ the Fountain of life which expresseth with men who speak as they think their sincere intention but he intendeth no such thing Answ. Make the comparison runne as it should doe and it maketh more against Arminians say that this Inne-keeper had dominion over the heart and will as the Lord hath Prov. 21.1 Psal. 119.36 37. Hebr. 13.20 21. Matth. 6.13 and that he could and doth without straining of the heart work in all the passengers a sense of their disease grace actually to come and drink and yet hee taketh a dealing with the soules of some few and causeth them come to the waters and drink and healeth them and he useth such meanes and so acts upon the will of the farre most part that they shall never come never be sensible of their disease and yet he invites them to come to the waters and drink its clear this Inne-keeper never intended the health of all and every one of the passengers but only of these few that come and drink nor doth invitations with men upon condition which the party invited is obliged to perform but doth never perform and which the inviter only of grace can work in the invited but doth not work them as being not obliged thereunto speak any such intention Again let it be considered that here 1 God lies in wait for no mans destruction 2 God is not obliged to reveal his eternall purpose and intentions touching mens salvation and damnation but in the way and manner seemes best to him 3 God never saith in all the Gospel that from eternity he hath passed a resolve to save all mankinde if they will and to yeeld them the bridle on their own necks that they may bee indifferent and absolute Lords of Heaven and Hell 4 Nor should the Gospel be framed in such wisdomâ— if the Lord had set down particularly the names of all the Elect and Reprobate in the world and have proponed salvation upon condition of obedience and faith to some few it should evidently have raysed a hard opinion in the mindes of thousands touching Christ. Asser. 4. The third object of Faith is the sufficiency and power of Christ to save 1 The Scripture maketh the object of comming which is beleeving Ioh. 5.40 Ioh. 6.35 Matth. 11.27 to be Christs ability and power Hebr. 7.25 to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them What the Scripture presseth us to beleeve savingly that we must be inclined to misbeleeve and for the misbeleeving thereof the reprobates are condemned and not because they beleeve not the Lords intention to save all or his decrees of election and reprobation But the Scripture presseth faith in the power of mercy Rom. 4.21 Abraham staggered not but was strong in the faith giving glory to God being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform Now Abraham is commended for that he savingly and for his justification beleeved the power of God in the Gospell promise that God was able of his mercy to give him the sonne of promise in his old age otherwise to beleeve simply the power of God to give a child to a mother who is passed the naturall date of bearing children is but the faith of miracles which of it selfe is not sâ—ving and may bee in workers of iniquity Matth. 7.21 22. so this power then is the power of saving conjoyned with the mercy and good will of Christ. 2 The Scripture holds forth to our faith the power of God to graffe in the Jewes again in Christ Rom. 11.23 to make a weak beleever stand Rom. 14.4 to keep the Saints from falling and to present them faultlesse bâ—fore the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Iude v. 24. 3 The good Land was a type of the heavenly rest Heb 4.1 and Heb. 3.19 some entred not in through unbeleefe why what unbeleefe the Story sheweth us Psal· 93.7 Num. 14.9 Num. 13.28 they doubted of the power of God and beleeved the report of the unbeleeving Spies who said The people be strong that dwell in the Land the Cities are walled and very great and moreover we saw the childâ—en of Anak there Joshua and Caleb chap. 14.9 said they should not be bread for them and their strength was gone then the question was whether God was able to give them that good Land So then men enter not into the heavenly rest because they beleeve not that Iesus is able to save to the uttermost those that come through him to God Heb. 7.23 4 The Scripture is as much in proving the alsufficiency power and perfection of Christ our Saviour to save as in demonstrating his tendernesse of mercy and goodwill to save as in the Epistle to the Hebrewes the Apostle laboureth much for to prove the Godhead of Christ his excellency above Angels and that the Angels were to adore him his dignity and greatnesse above Moses and all the mortall and dying Priests the vertue of his blood above all the bloods of Buls and Goats to purge the conscience from dead works to expiate sinne to sanctifie his people to open a way a new and living way to the holy of holiest by his blood that we with full assurance may draw near to God that he with one Sacrifâ—ce
righteousnesse and life then other strangers to Christ and Gentiles Rom. 9.30 31 32 33. Rom. 10.1.2 3 4. Rom. 11.1.2 3 4 5 6 7 8 c. rejected and there should be others as good as these by nature that the Lord should have mercy on now in both these first God is free in his grace secondly just in his judgements though he neither call nor chuse accoâ—ding to works thirdly the damned creature most guilty and fourthly the Lord both jâ—stly sâ—vere and graciously meâ—cifull fifthly none have cause to complaine or quarrell with God and yet God might have carried the matter a farre other way sixthly the head cause of this various administration with Nations and persons is the deep high soveraign innocent holy independent will of the great Potter and Former of all things who has mercy on whom he will hardneth whom he wil and this is the depth without a bottom no creature Angel or Men can so behave them selves to their fellow-creatures yet be free just holy wise c. but sure one creature can deal with his fellow creature according to the rules and road-way of an antecedent consequent will so may the King deal with his people the Governour with those he governes the Father with his children the Commander with his souldiers the Lord of a Vine-yard with his hired servants all these may order their goodnesse mercy rewards punishments in a way levill with the use industry improvement of free-will or the rebeâ—lion unjustice wickednesse and slothfulnesse of their underlings but no Master nor Lord can call Labourers to his Vine-yard and exhort obâ—est beseech them all to labour and promise them hire and yet keep from the greatest part of them the power of â—â—â—rring armes or legs of free consenting to labour and suspend his so acting on the greatest part of them as they shall willingly be caâ—â—ied on to wilfull disobedience and to be the passive objects of his revenging justice according to the determinate counsell of the Lord of this Vine-yard because so he willed out of his absolute soveraignty to deal with some and deale a just contrary way with the least part of the labourers because hee pâ—â—posed to declare the glory of his grace on them either there is here an unsearchable depth or Paul knew nothing and this calmes my minde and answereth all that reason can say for universall atonement and the 1. Vse I aym at is that no Doctrine so endeareth Christ to a soule as this of particular redemption and free-grace separating one from another Psal. 147 1â— Prayse the Lord O Ierusalem and amongst manâ— groundâ— here is one vers 19. he sheweth his word unto Iacob his Statutes and his judgements to Israel ver 20. he hath not dealt so with any Nation and he speaketh not of the measure as if God had revealed the same grace in nature but in an inferiour degree to other Nations for hee saith as for his judgements they have not known them and thâ—n being full of God for this separating mercy he addeâ—h prayse yee the Lord Christ esteems this the floure of grace the grace of grace and blesseth his Father for it Matth. 11.25 I blesse thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes now because Arminians say the pride of the self-wise and the humility of babes are the causes separating the one from the other and so free-will is to share with the Father in the praise of the reveiled glory of the Gospel and the discovered excellency of Christ to babes rather then to wise men a literall revelation no doubt was common to all babes and prudent the swelled Pharisees and humbled sinners Christ praiâ—eth the eminency the blossom of grace the bloom of free-love in that the free-wil of the humble and the proud made not the separation but the good pleasure of God ver 27. No man knowes the Son but the Father and he to whom the Son will reveale him 2. That which is common to all shall never leave an impression of wonder and thankfull admiration I and we are swelled lofty and proud things and the Spirit of God commends grace highly in that it falls upon pronowns and persons and not on others 1 Cor. 15.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am the least of of the Apostlâ—s vers 10. By the grace of God I am that I am and his grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 toward me was not in vaine but I laboured more abundantly then they all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but not I but the grace of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in me Tit. 3.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for we our selves also were sometime out of our wits disobedient c. ver 4. but when the kindnesse and man-love of God our Saviour appeared ver 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he saved us 1 Tim. 1.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am the chief of sinners ver 16. but for this cause I obtained mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that in me first Iesus Christ might shew forth all long suffering Gal. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ but I live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet not I but Christ lives in me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who has lovâ—d me and given himself for me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes. 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and you who were dead in sins and trespasses hath he quickned ver 4. for his great love wherewith he loved us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 5. even when we were dead in sins and trespasses he hath quickened us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together with Christ ver 13. But now in Christ Iesus yee who somtimes were farre off are made neare by the blood of Christ the passing by my Father and mother and brother and sister neighbour and friend and taking me is a most indearing favour 3. Of all in Scotland and England all in Europe all Adams seed that ever were masters of a living soule in the womb or out of it the Lord passed by so many thousands and millions and the lot of free-grace fell upon me precisely by name and upon us and not upon thousands besides no lesse eligible then I was what thoughts will you have of the fâ—â—e lot of love that fell upon you ever since God was God when Christ shall lay such a load of love such a high weight and masse of love on you ye shall then think O how came I hither to sit in heavenly places with Christ that body that is trimmed cloathed and doubly embroydered with pure and unmixed glory is just made of the same lump of earth with the body of Judas or Cain that are now flaming and sinking to the bottom of the black and sad river of brimstone the Lord saith Ezek. 18.4 behold all souls are mine and
5.43 44 45 46 47 48. nor doth God miscarry in this love he desires the eternall being of damned Angels and Men he sends the Gospel to many Reprobates and invites them to repentance and with longanimity and forebearance suffereth pieces of froward dust to fill the measure of their iniquity yet does not the Lords generall love fall short of what he willeth ro them 3. There is a love of speciall election to glory far lesse can God come short in the end of this love For 1. the work of redemption prospereth in the hands of Christ even to the satisfaction of his soule saving of sinneâ—s all glory to the Lamb is a thriving work and successefull in Christs hands Esa. 53.10 11. He shall see of the travell â—f his soule and be satisfied 2. Christ cannot shoot at the rovers and misse his marke I should desire no more but to be once in Christs chariot paved with love Cant. 3. Were I once assured I am within the circle and compasse of that love of Election I should not be affrayd that the chariot can be broken or â—urned off its Wheels Christs charâ—ot can goe through the red Sea though not dryed up hee shoots arrows of love and cannot misse he râ—dâ—s through hell and the grave and makes the dead his living captives and prisoners 3. This love is natively of it self active Ezechiah saith in his sâ—ng Esai 38.17 Behold for peace I had bitternesse but thou hast in love to my soule delivered me from the pit of corruption but in hebrew it is thou hast loved my â—oule out off the pit of corruption because thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back he speaketh of Gods love as if it were a living man with flesh and bones armes hands and feet went down to the pit and lifted up Ezechiahs soul out of the pit so has the love of Christ loved us out of hell or loved hell away to hell and loved death down to the grave and loved sinne away and loved us out of the armes of the Devill Christs love is a persuing and a conqâ—ering thing I shall never believe that this love of redemption stands so many hundreth miles aloof on the shoare and the bank of the river aâ—d lake of fire and brimstone and â—â—yes afar off and wisheth all mankinde may come to land shoaâ— and casâ—eth to them being so many hundreth miles from them wordâ— of milk wine and honey out of the Gospel and cryeth that Christ loveth all and every one to salvation and if wishes could make men happy Christ earnestly wâ—shes and desires if all men were alike well minded to their own salvation that all and every one might be saved that there were not a Hell but he will not put the top of his little finger in their â—earâ— to â—ow and incline their will and Christ cryeth to the whole world perishing in sin I have shed my blood for you all and wish you much happinesse but if ye will not come to me to believe I purpose not to passe over the line of Arminian decency or Iesuiticall congruity nor can I come to you to draw your hearts by way of efficacious determination if yee will do for your selves and your own salvation the greatest part of the work which is to apply redemption by your own free-will though I know you cannot be masters of your selves of one good thought and are dead in sinnes as I have done the other lesser part purchased salvation for you or made you all reconciliable and savablâ— it s well oâ—herwise I love the salvations of you and every one but I will not procure it but leave that to your free-will chose fire or water heaven or hell as the counsels of your own heart shall lead you and I have done with you Oh such a love as this could nâ—ver save me If the young heire had wisedom he should pray that the wise Tutor lay not the falling or the standing of the house on his green head and raw glassie and weather-cock free will we shall cast down our crowns at the feet of him that sitteth on the Throne because he has redeemed us out of all nations tongues and languages and lâ—ft these nations to peâ—ish in their own wicked way sure in heaven I shal have no Arminianâ—houghts â—houghts as now I have through corruption of nature I shall not then divide the song of free Redemption between the Lamb and free-will and give the largâ—st share to free-will my soule enter not into their counsels or secrets who thus black Christ anâ— shame that faire spotlesse and excellent grace of God Vse 3. Here is excellent ground of encouragements to the Elect to the believe for the feare of reprobation from eternity is no ground that thou shouldst not believe Object 1. I fear that I am a reprobate Answ. If thou wilt know the neede that a Reprobate man has of that saving Saviour Iesus Christ thou wouldst upon any termes cast thy soule upon Christ which if thou doe now thou hast answered the question and removed the fear that thou art a reprobate for a reprobate cannot believe Object 2. But sinne and unworthinesse inclines more to reprobation then to be loved eternally of God Answ. Not a whit except the Lord had revealed reprobation to thee sinfull clay nothing but the great Potter may wash the clay and frame thee a vessell of honour Objct. 3. But sinne continued in such as my sinne is is the first morning dawning of reprobation as faith and sorrow for sin is the first opening of election to glory Answ. Sinne finally and obstinately continued in is a sign of reproâ—ation but say you had obstinately gone on in sinne as I love not to cuâ—e spirituall wounds by smoothing and lessening them yet your duty lies on you in a sence of your need of Christ to come to Christ the event is Christs you may say It s fitting Lord I be a râ—probâ—te but many thousands of bad deserving as I am are singing the praises of free-grace before the Throne Objct. 4. But if my sinne evidence to me reprobation it s a cold comfort to goe to Christ and believe for sure I have obstinately gone on against Christ and reâ—sted his call Answ. Though we are not to lessen the sins of any yet a Physitian may say it s not so desperate a disease as yee say it is so may we say it s a strong disease that overcomes the art of Christ though it falls seldom out never to my observing that any finally obstinate can attaine to wide broad and auxious wishes to enjoy Christ with some seene and acknowledged need of Christ. Object 5. But what encouraging comfort have I to believe since I have gone farther on in obstinacy then any Answ. There cannot be such an encouraging comfort in a non-convert as is satisfactory no work can be in a non-convert of that straine with sâ—ch as are in converts
hadst rather he should fall into a swoone in the streets as open to him and lodge him and hast had open back doores for harlot lovers O bee ashamed of sleighting free love 2 Dispised love turneth into a flame of Goâ—pel-vengeance a Gospel-hell is a hotter furnance then a law-hell No man spinn hell to himself out of the wool of unbeleeving dispair If Christ be so willing to redeeme and draw his own all and can goe as neer hell as seven devils Have noble and broad thoughts of the sufficiency of Iesus to save 1. Consider and say with feeling and warmnesse of bowels to Christ all the redeemed familie that are standing up before the throne now in white and are fair and clean and without spot were once as Black mores on earth as I am now some of them were stables of uncleannesse to Sathan now they aâ—e chaâ—t virgins who defiled nâ—t themselves with women before the Lamb the mouâ—hs â—hat sometimes blasphemed are now singing the new song of the Lamb of Moses the servant of the Lord. 2 What love is that that there is a hole in the rock for ravens of hell to fly into as doves of heaven and a chalmer of love in the heart of Christ for pieces of sinfull clay 3. Fair Iesus Christ can love the black daughter of Pharoah he has found in his heart to melt in love and tender compassion toward a forlorne Amorite a poluted Hittite it breaks his heart to see the naked foundling cast out into the open fields dying in goared blood Christ can love where all do loath It s much hee can love a sinner thou art but a sinner hee has not blotted thy name out of the New Testament imagine thou heard him say sinner come to me Lost man suffer me to love thee and to cast my skirt of love over thee Doâ— but give him an hearty â—ay Lord consâ—nt and take him at his word Never rest till thou be at such a nick of the way to heaven as no backslider can attaine to We are too soon satisfied with our own Godlinesse and goe not one steppe beyond these that has cast out of themsâ—lves one Devil and the next day take in seven new fâ—esh devils and the end of these men is worse then their beginning they are redemned and bought and washen in profession and righteous in themselves those that have no more must fall away a Sheep in the eyes of men and a Sow at the heart must to the mire again sit not down till ye come 1. to bee willing to sell all and buy the pearle 2. Till ye attain to some reall and personall mortification that is a subduing of lusts a bringing under the body of sinne a heart-deadnesse to the world from this because your Lord died for you and has crucified the old man I mean not a morall mortification of Antinomians to beleeve Christ has crucified your lusts for you as if you were obliged by command of the letter of Law and Gospel to no personall mortification that ye may be saved never think ye are redeemed till yee bee redeemed from the walking in the wayes of the present evil world from all iniquitie from your vain conversation draw not breath rest not till ye come to this as ye would not turne back sliders in heart Redemption beleeved maketh men crown Christ as their King and such to whom Christ is made redemption must assert and confesse Christ a perfect Redâ—emer the King of his Church Those that are unpatient of his yoak of Government would set another king over Christ a Magistrate who by office ruleth not by the woâ—d but by civil Laws testifie they are unwilling to have Chriâ—t their Lord in their life who will not have him theiâ— Lord in the Church and his ordinances the great controversie that God has with England is sleighting of Religion the not building the Temple the increase of blasphemies and heresies fear that Christ reigne over them 33. If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me The fourth considerable article in the drawing is the terminus ad quâ—m the person to whom all mâ—n are drawn It is saith Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to me This is not a word which might have been spared as there is no redundancie nothing more then enough in the Gospel so Christ is no person who may bee spared but who ever bee one Christ must be the first peâ—son take away Christ out of the Gospel and there remaineth nothing but words and remove him from the work of redemption â—t is but an empty shadow Yea remove Christ out of heaven I should not seek to be there this is a noble and divine to me I will draw all men to mee 1. It concernâ—th us much what weâ— leave If wee leave the earth it is but a clay foot-stool and a mortall pâ—rishing stage and the house of sorrow and my dying fellow-creature if we leave sinne we leave hell the worm that never dieth vâ—ngeance and eternall vengeance is in the womb oâ— sâ—nne to leave father and mother and all the idols of a fancied happinesse is nothing But to whom we go to Christ or not to such an one as God the substantiall and eternall delight of God O that is of hâ—gh concernment 2. This to me coming out of the mouth of Iesus Christ is all and all its heaven its glory its salvation its new paradise it s the new city iâ—s the new life it s the new precious elect stone laid on Zion the new glory the new kingdome There is a greater emphasis an edge and marrow of words and things in this to me then in all the scâ—ipture in all earth and heaven and all possible and imaginable heavens 1. Why is Israel loosed hear the cause Psal. 81.11 Israel would none of mee Why drink they â—otten waters and Ciâ—terns of hell Oh here is the cause Ier 2â— 1â— Be astonished O heavens why for my people have committed two evils Ah these two are hundreds and millionâ— they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters Is not Christ crying in all the Gospel who will have me who will receive me is not this the Gospel-quarrell Iohn 5.40 Ye will not come to me that yee might have life it s no sport to die in sinne its a sad fall to fall into hell Ioh. 8.21 Then said Iesus again unto them I go my way and ye shall seek me and shall die in your sinnes whither I goe ye cannot come 3. If ye look to any other it cannot save you but one look on him would make you eternally happy and you have iâ— Esa. 45.22 Look unto me and be saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else come and have heaven for one look for one turning of your eye and when destruction commeth that the Church shall be like two or three olive berries lefâ— and
that high love discendeth the sweeter and the more drawing and the greatest guiltinesse not to be drawn Christ came down from a Godhead and emptied himself for us to be a worme and no man Psal. 22.6 The last of men Esa. 53.3 a doubt it was if he were in the number of men so the word importeth and he dwelt in the bush he made not his nest amongst Cedars but in the bush 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bush whence commeth Sinah or a desert and wildernesse such as was in Arabia Christ taketh it hard and weepeth for it Matth. 23.37 Luk 19.42 that he came down as a hen in the bush O but Christ has broad wings farre above the Eagle and would have made sinners in Ierusalem his young ones to nourish them with heat from his own bosome and heart but they would not be drawn And when he appeareth in a time of captivity Zach. 1. to save his people out of captivity many would not be saved he is seene ver 8. amongst the myrtle trees in the bottome It is true the myrtle tree is farâ—e above the bryâ—r and the thorn Esai 55.13 yet it s as much aâ— Christ dwels amongst the bushes and came down to the lowest plants for the Myrtle is a bush rather then a tree and growes in Vallies Deserts in the Sea-shoar Christ is a young low Plaâ—â— and a root out of a dry ground it s a matter of challenge that none believed his report and few were drawn by the Lord Iesus who is Gods arm all the strength of God and the drawing power of grace being in Christ and in Christ who came down so low in his love to us low-stooping love refused is a great deal of guiltinesse salvation it selfe cannot save when love submitting it selfe to hell to death to shame to the grave cannot save you think little to let a love song of the Gospel foure times a week passe by you but you know not what a guiltinesse it is 4. The greater the happinesse you are drawn to the higher is the sinne should Christ dâ—aw you to the Mount burning with fire to the Law-curses to the terrible sight of the fiery indignation of God men would say it were lesse sinne to refuse him but he drawes you Heb. 12.22 To Mount Sion to the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of Angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Iugde of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect And to Iesus the Mediator of the new Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling and he addeth dispise not this he is a Speaker from heaven It s but ene house one family which is in earth and heaven they differ but as elder and younger brethren Paul Rom. 16.7 putteth a note of respect on Andronicus and Junia Who saith he also were in Christ before me There is morâ— honour put on them that are in glory before us then on us as the first born of naâ—ure and grace so the first born of glory are honoured before us we should not weep for our friends crown and honour when they die yet they be all one house then to be drawn to Christ is to be drawn to heaven he should deservedly weep for ever and gnash his teâ—â—h in hell who in right down termes refuseth to be drawn to heaven There is another ground of shewing what a high provocation it is to resist the Gospâ—l-drawings of Christs arme and it is the way of resisting the operation of grace Interpreters say on the Text that Christ's drawing when he is lifted upon the crosse is a clear allusion to the manner of Christs crucifying for he with his two armes stretched out holdeth out his breast openeth his bosome and heart cryeth who will come and lodge in Châ—â—st's heart And againe favours profered by a great friend in his death ought not to be refused and the sourâ— tree of the Crosse was Christs dead bed here he made his last will and which no dying friend doth Christ dying left his heart and bowels of tender love to his dear friends he dyed drawing and pulling in sinners to his heart What a sinne must it be to meet his love with hatred and disdaine 2. Grace moveth in a circle of life the spring and fountaine is the heart of Christ and it reflecteth back to Chriâ—ts heart he resteth not with stretched out-armes to pull while he have his friends and Church in at his heart 3. The motion of free-grace is a subduing and a conquering thing and strong to captivate our love when yee see Christ dying and leaping for joy to die for you and when yee see him set to his head a cup of thick wrath of death and hell and see him smile and sing and sigh and drink hell and death for you it layeth bands of love on the heart What yron bowels must he have who would break the cup on his face and despise his love Grace applyed to the heart maketh it ingenuous free thankfull how can the sinner with-hold his love without the greatest guiltinesse that ever Devils committed for they cannot resist Christs drawing love O what sweetnesse of strongest and captivating love to see Christ and the tear in his eye and his face foule with weeping and his visage more marred then any of the sonnes of men Esai 52.14 and a flood of blood on his body Luk. 22.44 and yet good-will and joy and delight to doe and suffer Gods will for us sitting on his browes Psal. 40.6.7 8. Heb. 10.5 6 7. Now when Christ is burnt up with love and sick of tender kindnesse to cast water on this love by resisting it is the highest Gospel-sinne that can be except despiting of the holy Ghost and a third ground of aggravating to the full this sinne of resisting Christs drawing I take from the judgement and the plague and Gospel-vengeance on such as Christ draweth and they will not be drawn and is the sinne of the times I referre these to two heads 1. This Gospel despising of Christ now reigning in the Age and Kingdoms that we live in commeth neare to the borders of the sin against the holy Ghost for the more men be convinced and enlightned if they be not drawn to Christ they are the nearer to this sinne Heb. 6.4.5 chap. 10.26.27 now may we not think hardly of these who are convinced of many Gospel-truths and yet oppose them doth not Christs love come neare them and they flye from iâ— now but to neighbour or border on the coasts of a sinne like to the sin against the holy Ghost may cost men as deare as the lossâ— of their soule and the next furnace for torment and paine to these that sinne against the holy Gâ—oâ—t 2. The â—â—mporall pâ—ague thaâ— commâ—th nearest to eternall is the judgement oâ— God on the Iewes that refused and resisted
of his essence which is as David saith every where Ps. 139.7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit but so he is in Heaven in Hell in the Sea 2. But he dwelleth in the Saints in regard of the works operations gifts and graces of the holy Ghost 1. Because the holy Spirit is in them in that they have in them the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 such as love joy peace long suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith now these are not the holy Ghost who is eternall and God uncreated but are created in time out of meer nothing not out of the potency of the subject but ere God produce grace so knotty and so rocky are we and so contrary to grace that he must fall upon a new and second creation Ephes. 2.10 Col. 2.10 Psal. 51.10 the same word that is used for creating heaven and earth Gen. 1. â— is here used it is not like the repairing of a fallen house where the same timber and stones may doe the work or the repairing of decayed nature when a healthy body recovereth out of a feaver Grace is a rare and curious workmanship 2. We are said to grow in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 and by grace to increase to the edifying of the body in love Ephes. 4.16 and to the measure of the stature of the fullnesse of Christ 13. and to add grace to grace 2 Pet. 1.5.6.7 and to goe on to perfection Heb. 6.1 Phil. 3.12 But the person of the holy Ghost is noâ— capable of growing or addition nor like the morning light or the New Moone that can grow and advance in perfection being God blessed for ever 3. If there be an union of the person of the Holy Ghost with the soule and not an in-dwelling by graces the beleever as a beleever must live by the uncreated and eternall life of the Holy Ghost or a created life Creatum vel increatum dividunt omne ens immediatè sicut finitum infinitum Not the former neither any man nor the man Christ can in any capacity be elevated so above it selfe as to partake of the infinite life of God how the manhood of Christ partaketh of the personall subsistence of the Godhead is incomprehensible to me except that it is not by such a union as my singular nature standeth under personality created and is by assumption rather then union how ever if there be an union of the person of the Holy Ghoâ—â— to our soules it cannot be conceived nor doth Scripture speak of it if the Saints live the life of God it must be by created Graces and this is that we conceive 4 The person of the Holy Ghost immediatly acting in the Saints without them or any active and vitall influence of the naturall faculties cannot be guilty of sinne because David and Christ are absolved of sinne in this They lâ—yd to my charge things that I knew not that is things I never acted crimes in which I had no action or hand but we are blamed in the word for all the omissions of holy duties and the Holy Ghost cannot be blamed for he bloweth when and where he listeth and is under no Law in his motions of free grace then he who cannot be blamed in not acting cannot bee united as one spirit person with person with him who is justly to bee blamed in not acting Asser. 4 It must evidently follow that there is in the Saints a grace created that is neither Christ nor the Holy Ghost in person for what reason any hath to phancy an union of the person of Christ or the Holy Ghost in the Saints the same reason have they to say that all the three are united to the person of the beleever in all supernaturall actions for the Father is said to draw men to the Sonne Iohn 6.44 and Christ to reveal the Father and to draw men Iohn 1.18 Iohn 12.32 and the Holy Ghost to reveal the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 11. now all the three in person doe these but all the three persons are not united to beleevers in person this were a mystery greater then God manisted in the flesh and unknown to Scripture 2. If Christ be all the grace of beleevers faith in Christ and the love of Christ should be Christ. 3. Then should a beleever having a new heart and a new Spirit be Christed or Godded and God should bee incaâ—nate in every beleever and how many Christs should there be and the new heart in one Saint and the grace given to Paul should be the new heart given to Peter whereas God hath gâ—ven grace to every man according to his measure and there are diversity of gifts but one Spirit 2 Pet. 3.15 Phil. 1.9 Eph. 3.3.4.5 â— Cor. 12.3 â— 5.6 Eph. 4.16 Asser. 5. The Grace of God and our free will in a four-fold sense may be said to concurre in the same works of Grace 1. When free-will receiveth no more from Grace and the Lords drawing but only literall instruction and if by our industry an habite of the knowledge of the letter of the word be acquired its necessary only to the easier believing as Pelagius said I may believe without Preaching the Gospel by Reading but more easily by faire and powerfull preaching and by grace helping and assisting preaching but yet without grace but with greater difficulty as I may goe a journey on foot but more easily on horse-back then a horse is not simply necessary for the journey and a ship may sail more easily and expeditely with sailes yet also without sailes with the help of Oars though with more difficulty thus Christ and his Grace may be spared we may sail to heaven by natures sweating and free-wils industry though the sails of grace could more expeditely promove our journey Now we think not that Christ draweth when men speak but the bare letter of the Gospel and softly requests the dead with only sound of words and syllabls to live and Orators with golden words doe pray and perswade the blind to see and the creeples to walk but it s long erre words fetch a soule to dry bones that they may live or tye the broken eye-strings or adde vitall power and life to eyes and ankle-bones 2. Grace and free-will as Bellarmaine and the rest of the Iesuites with Arminians teach may be thought to be two joynt causes the one not depending on the other as two carrying one stone or burthen neither he helpeth him nor he him but both joyn their independent strength to one common effect Bellarmine and Grevinchovius with the like comparisons do prove that we may storm heaven by the strength of free-wâ—ll without dependence on Christ for three untruths are here taught 1. That Grace determineth not free-will a saying destructive to providence if God determine not all second causes he is not Master of all events nor hath he a dominion of providence in all things that fall out good and evill 2. Grace doth not begin
know that Christ was in mee before I beleeved and thaâ— I received him from eternity or from my conception 3. To beleeve maketh mee a sonne borne not of flesh and blood Ioh. 1.12.13 and Gal. 3.26 and by faith wee receive the Spirit This then must be nothing else but I know by the light of faith I was a sonne before and had received the Spirit before I beleeved What more absurd 4. And by faith I live not Christ liveth in mee and I am crucified and mortified that is by faith I know that I did live the life of God and was crucified to the world whereas I was dead in sinnes before I beleeved 5. And because beleeving is somewhat more then a naked act of the mind it being a fiduciall adherence unto and an affiance acquiescence heart-relyance staying on Christ or a rolling of our selves on God for salvation as is clear in the originall holy languages of scripture Psal. 18.18 Esai 26.3 Psal. 112.8 Esai 10.21 Mich. 3.11 Psal. 22 8. Psal. 55.22 1 Pet. 5.7 Cant. 8.5 Ioh. 1.12 It s too hungry a notion of faith to make it nothing but a knowing of that which really was before for heart-adherence is not an act of the mind and so not an act of knowledge but of the will and affection in which there is no act of knowledge formally though it presuppose an act of knowledge 6. Then wicked men must be in their sinnes not justified in his blood because they will not know that Christ dyed for them in particular and that Christ bore their sinnes on the crosse and justified and pardoned them long agoe all which to beleeve is to hold a lye in the right hand But to returne Asser. 7. How the Lord worketh in us to will and to do the power and the act and yet we are guilty in our omissions of good or in our sinfull and remisse manner of working with the grace of God is a point more mysterious then I dare undertake to explaine if these may give light I offer them to the Reader Posit 1. Grace free-grace is the great and Master-wheele that carrieth about heart senses foot and hand not that only but seede and tree and fruit the flower the principle dependeth necessarily on free grace and for a third the state and condition is higher then either principle or seed or fruit to bee an heir of glory is more then a supernaturall principle of gift and more then one single action above nature Grace must make the principle gratious and grace must inact and quicken the principle to bring forth and graces policie makes naturall men citizens of heaven sonnes of God heirs of life Ioh. 1.12.13 Gal. 4.4.5 Positi 2. This must stand as a ground that there is not any gracious act performed by the members but the head Christ is so interessed in it that as even the finger and toe in the naturall body cannot stirre without the motion takes its beginning from life and head so neither can the mysticall body or any joynt or member of it act or move in its supernaturall or be of grace but every individuall act of grace must pay the rent of glory to the mysticall head whose predeterminating influence does act and stirre the ship for Christ is not only the compasse and day-Starre according to which spirituall motions are directed and hand and finger foot and all see with the visive power seated in the head for they have no facultie of seeing in themselves and the Saints in these actions stirre with the light in the two eyes or seven eyes and lamps that are in the head Christ but also the real motions of grace in their physicall as well as in their morall sphere are shapen and acted by Christ It is not much though it be a wonder that a huge great ship made up of so many peeces of dry and dead timber can move regularly through so many circles compasses turnings of many coasts countreyes change of windes ten thousand miles to a certain herbrie when timber is acted and moved with the borrowed art and reason of a man stirring the helme so there is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a reason a wisdom in him who is made our wisdome to act the Saints in their heaven-ward motion that are carried through so many sea-circles turnings contrary windes of temptations afflictions various soule-dispensations of sweet and sowre absence presence going and coming again of Christ to such a determinate home as heaven for the Father must thank the stires-man Christ his sonne that the broken bark and all his poore friends are landed with the borrowed art of Christ and no more thanks and praise to us then to dead timber That we should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the praise of his glory Ep. 1.12 as if our passive being it is a borrowed expression for we are coagents with and under Christ in the work were destinated to the praise of the glory of his grace but wee are so drawne as Christ is great Lord moderator and authour and God in the second and new world of grace as God creator is in all actions of nature Ioh. 15.5 without mee as your vine tree in whom you grow and a stock in whom you bring forth fruit every blossome of of life every apple yee can do nothing Phil. 2.13 For it is God that worketh in you to will and to doe according to his good pleasure 2 Cor. 13.3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me which to you ward is not weak but is mighty in you then every word that Paul spoke Christ in him spoke it not formally as if Paul had been a mâ—er patient but efficaciously Rom. 15.18 for I will not dare to speak of any of these things which Christ hath not wroughtly me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed Esa. 27.3 I the Lord doe keep the Church the garden of red wine I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day keeping and watering every moment is grace actuall every moment to make his tender Vines grow and preserving his own from succumbring under every temptation 2. There were no ground for Adams thankfulnesse and praise that he stood one moment or that he gave names to every thing according to their nature or ever heard with patience the command of God thou shall not eat if in every act of obedience he had not need of the actuall predeterminating influence of God nor were there ground for this prayer in faith and in patient submission to God as to one to whom we owe the prayses of the not failing of our faith Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil nor were there 3 any glory due to Christs advocation and intercession that we fall not fully and finally off Christ and from Christ and the state of Grace when we are tempted if free-will not the actuall influence of
voyce and more 3. When the axe or the saw boasteth it selfe against him that lifted it the Lord may use his liberty So to come to the second consideration when Peter proudly trusteth in himselfe I will dye with thee ere I deny thee the Lord to punish his pride must deny his assisting grace when Peter is tempred that he may know that natuâ—e is a sâ—rry undertaker that the man rideth to heaven on a whithered reed who aymeth to climbe that up-hill-city one his own flesâ—y and clay strength and God to show a black spot on a faire face in heaven will have it said there standeth David before the Throne who once committed adultâ—ry and to cover the shame of it from men killed most treacherously an innocent godly man God here out of the ashes of our sin will have a rose of free grace that filleth the foure corners of heaven with its smell to grow green up in the higher Paradise for a summer of eternity and will have no Tenants in heaven but the free-holders of grace it is a question wâ—ithâ—r there be more grace or more glory in heaven for the crown of glory is a crown of grace that vaâ—ie sea of the redemption of grace issued from under our sâ—nfull falls 7. Yea upon this reasonlesse and fleshly ground if we may omit prayâ—ng and so believing loving repenting mortifying our lusts when the Spirit stirres us not to these acts and say if God will suffer me to sinne let him see to it then upon the same ground all the justified Saints I should think them Devils not Saints might sin muâ—ther blaspheme whore oppresse commit Sodomy Incest as Lot deny Jâ—sus Chrâ—st as Peter did and say as wâ— are not to pray nor obliged to a constant course in prayer when Christ draweth not and when the Spirit moveth us not as Antimonians say with Mr Crispe and others error 49. pag. 9.10 Rise Reign so neither are we to abstaine from murther denying of Christ blasphemy Sodomy when the spirit of Christ draweth us not and moveth stirreth not our soule to abstinency and a holy feare and circumspection that we commit not such abominations and Peter might say I am not obliged to a constant course of confessing Christ before men unlesse the Spirit stirre me thereunto and David or any Saint might say If the Lord will suffer me to murther the innocent let him see to it for the Lords drawing and the Spirits stâ—â—â—ing is as necessary in a holy eschewing of sinnes â—f commission as in sins of omission and by as great and an every way equall necessity if the Lord withdraw himself and the Spirit stirre not we must fâ—llâ—n such abominations when tempted by Sathan and the flâ—sh as in the sins of sinfull omitting of praying praysing believing when the Spirit stirres us not thereunto but the truth is this necessity can neithâ—r lay the blame on the holy spotlesse dispensation of God nor free us from guiltinesse because between Gods withdrawing influence and the sin there doth interveen an obliging Law that forbids sin and our free-wâ—ll and reason acting the sin freely But we are commanded 2 Tim. 1.6 To stirre up the grace of God in us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it s on allusion to the Priests who were to keep in the fire that came from heaven grace is resembled to fire under ashes which with blowing of bellowes is made to revive and burn again it is the Prophets complaint Esa. 64. â— There is none that calleth upon thy name or stirres up himselfe to lay hold on thee the habit of grace may be warmed â—lown upon and kindled that as fire makes fire so grace may put forth it self in acts of grace and the seed of God in the Saints 1 Joh. 2.9 may bring forth births like it selfe motion here produceth heat Object But the actuall predetermination of grace is not in your hand and without this acts of praying and believing are unpossible to me Answ. If this were a sufficient reason then all works of nature whatever the creature doth were unpossible for the plow-man should not goe to till sow and reape because without the blessing of the common and naturall influence of the first cause he could do none of these things 2. Because the Saints know not the counsell and minde of God in his decree of joyning of his supernaturall influence or his suspending of the same to this or this act of praying beleeving hoping loving of Christ c. Therefore upon all occasions the Saints what ever be their present deadnesse and indisposition are to pray beleeve and to stirre up themselves to lay hold on God 1. Because as in naturall and morall actions men are not to neglect plowing earing journeying eating drinking sleeping buying and selling upon this ground because they are ignorant whether in the work the Lord shall be pleased to joyne his influence as the first cause without whom all inferiour causes can doe nothing So are not the Saints to neglect to pray because they are dead and indisposed upon the ground of their doubting and not knowing whether the Lord of grace will be pleased to adde his actuall assistance of grace to worke in them to will and to doe for the Lord may be pleased to adde his supernaturall influence in a moment his winde bloweth when it listeth his grace moveth swiftly when and where he pleaseth our good disposition is neither rule condition worke nor hire to move him to work 2. It is all one as if we willfully neglected to pray and resisted the predeterminating grace of God when wee know not whether the Lord shall deny his influence or no Yet we disobey the Lord commanding and so obliging us to pray for as if wee had his influence at our elbow attending us so wee are to pray and set to work yea our voluntarie refusing to pray wee onely conjecturing evil of God and of his free grace without ground must come from sinnefull wickednesse not from impotency and weaknesse for who told you that Christ would bee wanting in his influence You knew it not from any word of God and shall you fancie a jealousy against Christs love without any warrant even as a servant commanded to lift a burthen upon a sluggishnesse should say It came thither in a Cart and two horses when hee would never move an arme to take a tryall what he could doe though the burthen were above his strength when he will not doe as much as he can his disobedience is wilfull Therefore wee may say if wee speake of a voluntary willfull and groundlesse forsaking of God in order of time we first forsâ—ke God ere hee desert us but in order of nature God first forsaketh us that is he withdraweth his heavenly influence from us but so as before and after the act of withdrawing wee are willing that God should withdraw and be gone for we love in all the acts of sinning to havâ— a world
of our own 3. Wee are to beleeve in the generall we being within the covenant the Lord will keep his promise Deut. â—0 6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heaâ—t and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule that thou mayest live Ezech. 11.19 And I will give them one heart and I will put a new Spirit within you 20. that they may walke in my Statutes Ezech. 36.27 then are we so to set to these duties of waâ—king in the Lords way as wee are to beleeve he will nor deny actuall grace necessary for our perseverance because it is his expresse promise Ier. 31.33.34.35.36 Ier. 32.39 â—0 Esai 59.19 20 21. Esai 54 10.11 Ezech. 36.26.27 1 Ioh 2.1.2 Matth. 16.18 Luk. 2â— 3â—.32 though in acts not fundamentall and simply nâ—cessary for our being in the state of grace the Lord hath reserved a latitude of independent Sovâ—raigntie to act the soule in these and these particular aâ—ts as seemeth good to him that every new breathing of the Spirit of â—esus may bee a new debt and obligation of free grace to Christ. We are absolutely to pâ—ay for the breathings of Christs Spirit to goe aâ—ong wiâ—h us in all the particular acts of a gracious and spirituall walking but we know the Lords absolute good pleasure is his rule hee walks by so here our desires may bee absolute in seeking where the Lord gives upon condition of â—is owne good will nor are our desiâ—es in prayer to bee conformable to Gods decree or free pleasure but to his revealed will Grace is the culours of the inhabitants and citizâ—ns of the house of the lower and higher roomes of the new Ierusalem all the way and all the home the Sainâ—s walk in this white Christ keeps not his Spouse in a close chamber it is not one great act of free grace onely when all were in one day redeemed on the crosse but dayly Christ weareth his Church as a bracelet about his neck as a seal on his heart as his Royall diadem and a crowne of glory on his â—ead as his love-ring on his hand this day grace to morrow new and fresh supply of grace the next houre grace hee has strowed all the way to heaven with new grace every day new wine new Spiknard new peâ—fume new ointments When will Christ grow old and gray-haired Never Will his heart evâ—r grow cold of love No Will hee tyre of love will he weare out of delight in the Spouse that lyeth for eternity betweene his breasts No no The love of â—hrist is alwaies greenâ— as young-like as fair and white today as from eternity this rose is not altered a whit Who knowes how grace and love in Christs breast solaced themselves in these infinite revolutions of ages before the creation how Christs heart was cheering it selfe and rejoycing to have the first day of the creation dawning that he might enjoy the love of the sonnes of men not then created Proverb 8 3â—.31 as if grace and love had thought long to finde a channell with wide banks to flow in as if Christ having infinite love within him in that long long age to borrow that expression should say when shall time begin and sinfull men and my mysticall body and desired spouse my Church have being in the world that I may out that grâ—ce on her I have love within me and lying beside me I rejoyce to have a lover as if grace in Chriâ—t hâ—d been in too naâ—row banks in the inâ—â—nite acts of the infinite minde of God and the heart of Christ and longed to have Men and Angels to give a vent to his love And that long avum the ages that were before the world was brought it green to us that long long endlesse and vast duration when time shall bee no more cannot make Christs love change the colour or grow lesse or root one Saint out of his heart When God leaveth off to bee God â—râ—ce will leave off to bee Grace Make Christ repent of Grace if you can as Christ has washen his Spouse and in regard of the guilt of sin has made her all fair and spotlesse so doth he dayly lick and purge and cleanse her in regard of the inherent bâ—ot while shee bee faire as the Sunne and all a new heaven Asser. 7. In the third consideration from this suspension of divine influence cometh our sinne as a necessary consequent and result yet so as the Lords suspension and our transgression fall both in the bosome of divine providence The Lord knoweth why be withdraweth his grace that we mâ—ght know how weighty a thiâ—g grâ—at heaven is laid upon our poor shoulders and that we would make foule woâ—k out of all wee have received and the flock the second Adam has given is if we had not Christ to stirre the ship to lead the minors to heaven to keepe the inheritance to the little heirs of Christ should evanish to nothing Poâ—tion 9. If wee consider the Lords denyall of Christ from wicked men they câ—nnot turne to God but that impotency lay in the womb of will it is not weaknesse onely but also wilfulnesse Matth. 23. verse 37. I would have gathered you saith Christ yee would not Ioh. 5.6 Christ saith to the sick man wilt thou bee made whole Then there was a stop in his will as well as in his weaknesse er 44.16 As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not heaâ—ken to thee 2. Love and delight to do ill is from the strength and marrow of the will not from weaknes only the seruant that would not leave his master because he loved him is a slave for ever through love to slavery rather then through impotency to bee free In those that dâ—light to doe eâ—il Will hath a strong influence in the evil they doe every sinner esteemes his prison of hell a heaven hiâ— fetters of sinne on his legs as a gold chain about his neck 3. It is a journey of a hundreth miles to Christ it is unpossible to the naturall man to compasse it yet he may walk two of these hundreth miles though not as a part of the way he will not so much as cast a sad look after Christ the will not bestow one sigh after Christ nor know his own weaknesse nor dâ—spair of his own hability nor lie at the water-side and câ—y Lord Iesus come carry me over he positively hates Christ were it possible that the unrenewed man had the two eyes of a renewed man to see the beauty and high excellenâ—y of Iesus though he had still his own lame legs he would weep out his eyes for a Chariot to carry him to Christ hee would send sad love-challenges after Christ could these that ' are scortched in hell-fire and hear the howling of their fellow prisoners and see the ugly Devils the bloody Scorpions with which
for imputed sinne behoved to bleed to death 2. Only Enoch and Elias were reprieved by the prerogative of free-grace we are by birth and sinne but some ounces or pieces and fragments of death and its appointed for all men to die there is more reason we should die then the Lord of life for life was essentiall to the Prince of life but life is a stranger to us man is but man but a handfull of hot dust a clay-vessell tunned up with the breathing of warme wind that smoaks in and out at his nostrils for a inch of flietting away time And sinne addes wings to the wheels of his life and layes a Law of death on man and if Christ had not come into this clay city he had been under no law of death he dies for us then we should â—arre rather have died pâ—opter quod unumquodque tale c. Now because your Redeemer laid his skin to death and was willing to kisse death believers are to esteeme of death as the crosse that Christ went through love the winding sheet and the coffin the better that they were the sleep-bed and night-clothes that your Saviour sleeped in 3. And Christ had the more cause to be willing to die that he was little beholden to this life it looked ever with a frowning face on Christ 1. The first morning salutation of this life when Christ was new born it boasted and threatned Christ with the cutting of his throat in the cradle and banishment out of his own land to Egypt 2. He had good hap all his life to sufferings hee had ever the winde on his faire face and the smoak blowing on his eyes as if his whole day had been a feast of teares and sorrow yea life and the sad and glowing crosse parted both together with Christ as if the world had sworn never to lend the Son of God one smile or one glimpse of a glad houre 3. Christ thought himselfe well away and out of the gate as he fore-telleth when the people mourned for his death Luk. 23. ver 28 29 30 31. before the destruction that came on the City of Ierusalem that killed many of the Lord of the wine-yards servants and at last killed the righteous heir 4. You may remember Christ message that he sent to Herod Luk. 13.32 I doe â—uers to day and to morrow and the third day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I shall be perfected Heb. 2.12 It became him from whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory to make the captain of their salvâ—tion perfect through sufferings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Death made Christ perfect for the Loâ—d put the faire crown of Redemption on Christs head with a very black hand it was a black boat-man that carried our Prince Iesus over the water to Paradise but sweet Iesus would have it his perfection his crown his glory to be swallowed up in deaths womb for us It s considerable that death perfecteth the head 1. As a Priest he had been an unperfect sacrifice if he had not dyed and being offered dead to God Christs dead corps had an infinitely sweet smell in the nostrils of a just God never sacrifice never burnt offering like this which perfected all 2. He had not been a perfect King and Conqueror had he not persued the enemy to his own land and made the enemies land the seat of warre and triumphed dead upon the crosse 3. He had not beene a perfect Redeemer had he not dyed and paid life for life no satisfaction without death no remission of sinnes without blood Heb. 10. but it was the heart-blood and blood with the life that was shed to God Now these same befall the dying Saints 1. While the Saints are here they are from home and not at their Fathers fire-side and this world their Step-Mother looks ever asquint on them Ioh. 16.33 And the crosse gets a charge from God concerning a Saint wâ—it on him as his keeper while he die leave him not the crosse follows the house of Christ and all the children of the house it s kindly to all the second Adams seed it is an in-come by year that followes the stock every childe may in his suffering say my father the Prince of ages even the head of the house my brother Iesus and all our kine were sufferers the sad crosse runs in a blood to us Psal. 34.19 Matth. 19.24 This is not our home I would I were ashoare and at home in my Fathers house 2. The Lord takes the righteous away from the ill to come Esai 57. When Christ was taken away vengeance came to the full on the lewes when he was in heaven Christs followers that die out-runne many Crosses as we see a man upon his life chased by his enemies gets into a strong house and with speed of foot wins his life sad dayes persue the Saints and they escape to their Castle before the affliction can reach or overtake there be some cruces posthume late-borne crosses calamities and ill dayes that come on the posterity of the godly the Lord closeth their eyes that they never see them The grave is a house the Devill and the World and affâ—ictions cannot besiege sure when a Saint is in heaven he is beyond Doomesday death and teares he defies the malignants of this world then and the warres and bloud that his own brethren can raise against him 3. What shall we say that as Christ thought himselfe maimed and he wanted a piece or an arm or legge of a Saviour and a perfect Redeemer till he dyed and then when hee dyed he was perfected indeed our redemption had been lame and unperfect had not Christ dyed and his escape through death and the land of darknesse the grave to his Fathers old crown that hee had with him befere the world was was a perfecting of Christ 1. So dying to a Saint is the Sun rising the morning birth-day of eternity the opening of the prisoners doore the Coronation-day the marriage-night 2. He is ever a lame man he wants incomparably his best halfe so long as he wants Christ in a fruition of glory all the travelling and way-fairing men in their journey toward heaven are but sick men for sicknesse is but a lamenesse of life a want of so many degrees as make up a perfâ—ct life because good health is but the flowre and perfection of life and the only perfect life Col. 3. ver 3.4 is the life of glory then all the Saints yet wanting the life of heaven must be crazie weak groaning men not healthy in a spirituall consideration while they be in heaven 3. When a Saint dies he but takes an essay of the garment and robe of glory though death make it seem strait and pinching and enters in the joy of his Lord Rev. 14.13 There is both Word and Writ and from a land where there can bee no lies from heaven blessed are the dead
every foot and a death on his soule ten thousand millions of pounds weightier and sadder then let us correct all our errours and mis-judgings touching the crosse Errour 1. We love to go to Paradise through a Paradise of roses and a land-way to heaven and a dry fair white death wee would have Christ and the crosse changed which saith who ever would follow Christ let him take up his crosse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dayly and follow him Luke 9.23 2. We forget that heaven is fenced with a huge great wood of thornes we must croud through though our skinne be scratched even to blood and death life eternall is like a faire pleasant rich and glorious Citie in the midst of a waste wildernesse and there lies round about this City at all the corners of it a Wood of Briats and Thorns Scorpions and Serpents and Lyons abounding in it and the Wood is ten thousand miles of bounds on all hands of a journey of threescore years at some parts there no high road-way in the Wood no back entry about wise Professors seek away about the crosse God has given wings to none to flie over the wood or it s like a fair Kings Pallace in an Iland of the Sea it s a most pleasant Isle for all kinde of delights but there is no way to it by dry land Would yee have valley ground Summer medows fields and gardens of flowers and roses all your way and how is it that the Lord will not give peace to his Church nay but there is not a way to heaven on this side of the crosse or on that side of the crosse but directly straight through we must goe when the Apostles went through the Churches confirming the brethren Act. 14.22 they preached that the crosse was Gospel and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 through the midst of affliction or under flailing and threshing we must goe there is not a way about to shift the crosse but we must enter into the Kingdome of God this very way and no other 3. The blood was not dryed off Christs hands and feet and his winding sheet till he was in the flower of the higher Pallace of his Fathers Kingdome and within the walls and so his Church must not think hard of it if she goe not a dry death to heaven Error 2. We tacitely condemn the wisdome of God in our murmuring under the crosse cannot Christ lead his people to heaven a better way then through the swords speares and teeth of malignants and must new Armies of Irish murtherers land on us againe these would bee considered 1. Paul encouraging the Thessalonians saith 2 Thess. 3.3 no man should be moved by these afflictions why for your selves know we are appointed thereunto from eternity the wise Lord did brew a cup of bloody sufferings for his Church and did mould and shape every Saints crosse in length and breadth for him our afflictions are not of yesterdayes date and standing before the Lord set up the world as it now is he had all the wheels pinnes wedges works and every materiall by him in his eternall minde all your teares your blood all the ounces and pounds of gall and worm-wood yee now drink they were an eternall design and plot of Gods wise decree before the world was they were the lot God did appoint for your back they are no sourer no heavier this day then they were in the Lords purpose before time your grave O Saints is no deeper then of old the Lord digged it your wound no nearer the bone then mercy made it your death is no blacker no more thorny and devouring then Christs soft hands framed it ere God gave you flesh and skinne and heat in your blood Christs doome and the Churches doome of the black crosse was written in Heaven So Christ smiles and drinks with this word Ioh. 18.11 shall I not drink the cup that my Father hath given me 2. Rom. 8. Predestination is the first act of free-grace and ver 29. in that act a communion with Christ in his crosse is passed this we consider not will ye not think good to set your shoulders and bones under the same burthen that was on Christs back we fear the crosse lesse at our heels and behind our back then when it s in our bosome the Lord Iesus speaks of his suffering often afore-hand and its wisdome to make it lesse by antidated patience submission before we sâ—ffer it were good would we give our thoughts and lende some words to death as Christ here doth ere it come Opinion which is the pencill that drawes the face armes and legges of death and sufferings might honey our gall if a Martyr judge a Prison a Pallace and his Iron chaines golden bracelets sure his bonds are as good as liberty if a Saint count death Christs master-usher to make way to him for heaven then death cannot be a Mill to grind the mans life to powder faith can oyl and sugar our worm-wood and if Christ come with the crosse it has no strength the believer has two skinnes on his face against the sâ—ittings of storme and haile-stones Christ can make a Saint sing in hell as impatient unbeliefe could cause a man sigh and weep in heaven 3. We forget that the Church is the Vine-yard of the Lord of hoasts and that the owner of the Farm must hire Satan and wicked men to be his Vine-dressers and his Reapers but the crop is the Lords not theirs they are plowers but they neither know the soyl nor the husband-man Psal. 129.2 Error 3. When we see we must suffer we tacitely are offended that Christ will not give us the first vote in our own jury and that he would not seek our own advise in this kinde of crosse not this except to one man David God never referred the choise of a crosse but then grace made the choyse sure Scotland would have chosen famine or the Pestilence rather then the sword of a barbarous unnaturall enemy but it must not bee referred to the wisdome of the sick what should be his physick we often say any crosse but this especially if there be any letter of reproach on the crosse a shamefull death or distraction of mind but the Lord seeth nothing out of heaven or hell so good for you as that that and no other 2. We would have the pound weights of affliction weighted in our ballance oh this is too heavie hence Davids and Iobs over-complaining Oh my calamity is heavier then the sand of the Sea Iob 6.3 and am I a Sea or a Whale that thou setest a watch over me chap. 7.12 Should God deale with a man as with a fish or a beast 3. Wee desire to be creators of such and such circumstances of our own griefe So wee storme often at the circumstances as at the very poyson of the crosse as if God had through forgetfulnesse and a slip of wisdom left that circumstance out of his
one word of old or new Testament frees us fâ—om the Law as our rule of righteousnesse and all the scriptures that speake of our freedome from the Law doe directly speak of our freedome from the curse and condemnation of it because we cannot be justified thereby as Gal. 3.10 For as many as are of the work of the Law are under the curse for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to doe them this must be to doe them in a legall way 1. Hee must doe them all in thought inclinations motions of the heart and all the strength of the soule in all his actions in all his words and in a spirituall manner as the law charges otherwise hee is cursed then all mankinde both such as are in Christ or out of Christ are cursed now if the simple doing of the things of the law as its a rule of our life did involve us in a curse then to honour Father and mother which Paul certainly commandeth as a Gospel-dutie Ephes. 6.1.2 and the loving of our brother to which Iohn 1. Epist. c. 2. c. 3. c. 4. c. 5. exhorteth us unto should involve us in a curse which is absurd 2. He must continue to the end in doing all the Law if ever he fail he is under a curse Now thus it is cleaâ— Paul saith wee are freed in Christ from a necessitie of justification by the works of the law For Paul addeth in the next words vers 11. But that no man is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident for the just shall live by faith if the living by faith did exclude workâ— and keeping of the law in anâ— respect at all as the keeping of the law is a witnesse of the life of faith then to doe the things of the law as its an eternall rule of righteousnesse should also involve us in the curse and argue that we seeke to be justified by the law and so that we are fallen from Christ even as to be circumcised doth involve a man to bee a debtor to the whole law and argueth a falling from Christ and the grace of the Gospel for Antinomians contend that we are the same way freed from the morall law as it is a rule of Righteousnesse that we are freed from the Ceremoniall law But wee are freed under the paine of a curse and of falling from Chriâ—t and the grâ—ce of the Gospel from the literall observing of circumcision Act. 15. Gal. â— 1 2 â— 4. as the Ceremoniall Law is a rule of righteousnesse and if any should pretend the impulsion and leading of the Spirit not any letter of the Law and thereupon be circumcised and should renounce the law of â—eremonies as a rule of righteous walking as Antinomians professe they obey father and mother and love their brother and abstaine from Idolatry not because the Law is their rule or the letter of the Law swayeth their conscience but because the Spirit of Christ leadeth them if I say any upon this Spirit would be circumcised and eat the passeover and sacrifice Lambs and blood to God now this Spirit is no Gospel Sâ—irit but the spirit of Sathan leading such from Christ If then we are not to obey the Morall Law as a rule of life and righteousnesse but are fâ—â—ed from it the same way that we are freed from the Ceremoniall Law then to love God and our brethren in any notion should bee sinne as to be câ—rcumcised in any notion is to fall from Christ Act. 15. Gal. 5. Mr Towne has a strange evasion for this Page 138. The Spirit is free why will yee controule and rule it by the Law whereas the nature of the Spirit is freely to conforme the heart and life to the outward rule of the Law without the help of the Law as a crooked thing is made straight according to the line and square and not by thâ—m and thus while a believer serveth in newnesse of the Spirit the Spirit freely and cheerefully moving him and inclining him to keep the Law which is meerely passive herein they doe wickedly who hence take liberty to sinne Answ. 1. To doe the will of God meerely as commanded from the power of an outward commandement or precept in the word is but legall and brings forth but mixt obedience or finer hypocâ—isie saith Saltmarsh and Mr Town saith that it is to controule the free Spirit and to rule it by a Law and Familists of new England as the old Libertines say all verball Covenants or covenants expressed in words are covenants of works and such as strike men off from Christ and the whole letter of the Scripture holdeth forth a covenant of works and its dangerous to close with Christ in a promise of the Gospel because the promise is an externall created letter and the Spirit is all this is to make a battell and contrariety between the Word of God and the Gospel as written or preached and the Spirit whereas 1. that which the Scripture saith the Spirit of God saith the command and Gospel promise is the sense and minde of the holy Spirit for that the Scripture is qâ—ickned by the Spirit 2 Tim. 3.16 and the Word is the seed of God and of the new birth 1 Pet. 1.23 and mighty in operation and powerfull and sharper then a two-edged sword Hebr. 8.12 nor is it possible that any can believe the report of the Gospel because it is the Gospel-report but the arme of the Lord and the power of God in the Gospel must be revealed to them Esai 53.1 Ioh. 12.37.38.39 For Iohn saith the not receiving the report of the Gospel is judiciall blindnesse and unbeliefe when Ioseph dare not oppresse his brethren and Iob dare not lift his arme against the Fatherlesse because the sixth command saith thou shalt not murther this is but finer hypocrisie in Ioseph and Iob and a controuling of the free Spirit better believe David Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have a respect to all thy Commandements no doubt the Lord concurred freely with Adam in the act of obeying God in abstaining from the fruit of the forbidden tree if therefore Adam should obey God out of conscience to Gods command eat not he should either controule the free Lord in his working which none in conscience can say or then Adam must have been loosed from obedience to that command if yee eat yee shall die as we are now loosed from the Law and the second death though we break the Law according to the Antinomian way yea it s unconceivable how these that are under grace doe obey the Gospel enjoyning faith because the Lord â—esus commandeth them but they must sin in so doing because they controule the free Spirit of God in not obeying for the free impulsion of the Spirit but for the literall command of God for sure to controule
the free Spirit is sin and to obey for the letter of the command to Antinomians is to controule the free Spirit but its blasphemy to say that there is a contraiety between the letter of the Lords command either in Law or Gospel and the free impulsion of the Spirit working â—in us by grace to will doe and obey the command â—or to obey the voyce of the Lord in his Prophets and Apostles and to obey the Lord himselfe are all one in the word but this is the error of old Anabaptists and Enthysiasts to reject the word and all teaching by men and the word and to leane to the only immediate inspirations and free motions of the Holy Ghost and to doe or obey for any other teaching is the way of legall and law-men led by the letter not by the Spirit If any obey or doe Gods will out of by respects or for feare of punishment or hope of reward they doe not Gods will nor obey they from the power of an outward command nor doe they controule the free Spirit because the very letter and outward commandement enjoyneth inward spiriâ—uall sincere obedience farre from hypocrisie and forbiddeth in the sense of the letter of it all servile respects and service of God for hire Antinomians believe that the Law as the law doth ommand men to obey for fear of hell as a servant for beating obeyeth his Master or that it commandeth perfect obedience for hire of life eternall I doâ—bt not to say this is not far from blasphemy for the Law is spirituall and holy and good and most just it s a cleane and undefiled Law Psal. 119. Rom. 7. is the expresse and image of thâ— good acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12.2 then the Law as the Law can command no finer hypocrisie no servile no mercenary obedience for hire for the Law cannot command sin its true Luther saith that the Law compelleth men to obey God but he speaketh of the accidental operation fruit of the Law because of our sinfull disposition and of the condemning Law as it works on our corruption the holy Law commandeth no man to obey God wickedly 2. The letter of the Gospel carrieth to us and holdeth forth free grace openeth the bowels and heart of Christ calleth on the weary and loaden to come to Christ speaketh heaven glory and the promise in the wombe of it though it be but the foolishnesse of preaching of men yet it s the power oâ— God to salvation and there is such a Majesty so much of heaven in the womb and bowels of the word that as I never read or heard the like of it so I shall hate that Religion that joyns with popery to call it Ink-divinity and a letter and a legall servile thing so did the Libertines in Calvines time 3. All tendeth to this that we despise prophecying neglect the word commands promises covenant of grace and all these inferiour meanes and so praying experience conference hearing reading Sacraments because without the Spirit these are livelesse and dead for saith Towne the meanes are passive shall be also many restraints laid on the free Spirit of God But so we should not saile nor traffiâ—k we should not plew nor eare we should not watch the City nor build houses because all these are fruitlesse without the influence of a blessing from heaven if their meaning be that we are not to trust or rest on the meanes the word promises covenant of grace but to seek Christ himsâ—lfe in all these its good but then to seek Christ in his own way is not to controule his spirit as Mr Town phancieth Now what Town doth meane in saying that the Spirit freely conformeth the heart and life to the outward rule of the law without the help of the Law is heard to conjecture for â—f the meaning be that the Spirit needeth the heâ—p of the Law to make us know our sinnes to humble us and chase us to him who is the end of the Law then surely the Spirit by the help of the Law worketh these in us as God maketh cornes to grow by husbandry raine good soile and by nature his handmaide no man can say God works here without the help of the Law if the meaning be that the law of it selfe cannot convert a man to God Antinomians father most falsely such a dream on us nay the Gospel of it selfe cannot effectuate this without the Spirit But if the Spirit conforme us to the outward rule of the law then must the law be yet a rule of our obedience how are we then freed from the law as a rule of our obedience if the Spirit led us back to this rule And Rom. 3. Rom. 7. Gal. 3. 2 Cor. 3. where the Apostle speaketh of our freedome from the law he ever speaketh of our freedome from the law as it condemneth as it worketh wrath as it involveth us in a curse as it can justifie us or give life never as it doth regulate direct teach and lead us in the way of righteousnesse Mr Towne Pag. 9. What freeth a believer from the curse but because he is a new creature in Christ and is made personally perfectly and everlastingly righteous and the principall debt is obedience the failing wherein bindeth â—ver to the curse and death Answ. That new creature is sanctification not justificatification 2 Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ that is if he be justified hâ— is a new creature that is he is sanctified else by the Antinomian glosse the meaning must be if any man be justified in Christ he is justified in Christ Paul speaketh not so non sense 2. It is true we owe active obedience to the law as a debt but that is the dâ—bt of absoluteâ—y perfect obâ—dience how shall it follow that Christ has loosed us from all debt of active obedience because he has loosed us from a necessity of perfect active obedience under the paine of damnation but the Law as in the hand of Iesus the Mediator or the law 〈◊〉 spiritualized and lustered with Gospel law and free-grace and drawn downe to a Covenant of free-grace reqâ—ireth not exact perfect obedience under paine of losing salvation yea it requireth obedience as the poore man is able to give it by the grace of God that the man enter in the possession of life eternall but that he may have ransome-right by merit and conquest to heaven or to free justification in Christ the law cannot crave either legall or Evangelick obedience This then is no more a good consequence then to say Christ has by his death freed us from death and suffering as they are caused by the Law and satisfactory to justice therefore Christ hath freed us from death and sufferings in any respect Yea Paul showeth what Law it is that we are freed from Rom. 8.2 it is the Law condemning and killing called the law of sinne and death and he saith expressely Christ dyed for
tenets that Antinomians hold contrary to walking in Christ. (a) Vol. 3. Serm. 4.160 161 162. The Antinomian confession of sins fleshly Vehement stirrings of lusts goe before conversion The right use of preparations to facilitate not to merit Redemption hath no foregoing preparations Conversion hath (b) Saltmarsh Free grace cap. 51. p 184 185. Vel specificativè vel reduplicativè How the promises of the Gospel are held forth to sinners as sinners How we cannot too soone come to Christ and yet wee must not come presumptuously Preparations make us nothing lesse sinners and nothing lesse unworthy of conversion if God would enter into judgement with us The Lord hath a set time for ripening the sinner for conversion Christ is moved by the same love to renew his drawing that moved him at first to draw Love-sicknesse goes before renewed drawings and divers other sweet marks The doâ—bt against condinaâ—l Gosâ—el-promises propounded Antinomians imagine that conditions of grace must be unconsâ—stent with grace Antinomians reject only the Arminians conditions The Arminian condition disproved Conditions absolutly in our will which we may performe or not perform as seeâ—eth good to free-will loosed from al divine predetermination were â—either in Adam before the fall nor in elect Angels Evangelike conditions wrought by the irresistâ—ble gâ—ace of God doe well consist with free grace Obedience commanded in the Law and in the Gospel how it is the same and how different The two extremes of Arminians and Antinomians the former dâ—stroying grace and making the letter of the Gospel-grace the latter destroying the letter of the written Gospel and all action in the regenerat and turning aâ—l commands and Evangelike exhortations into celestiall and immediate rapts of the Spirit How election is of free grace and justification and salvation of free grace How free â— condition saith is The nature of liberty not in a liberty of contradiction but in other â—hree things The Lords decrees and promises dâ—minish nothing of his liberty and freedome of grace in his working Grace properly though not originally in Saints Vse Our abusing of gracious Gospel conditions Bastard preparations The Lords Method both after and before we be delivered from temporall afflictions God delivers his Church out of externall afflictions before they be huâ—bâ—ed Free grace only not merit the caâ—se of our conversiâ—â— We have neither strength nor leasure to praise grace to the bottome Wherein the drawing consisteth Libertines falsly tâ—ach that justification and regeneration is one Town Assertion of Grace pag 115 116. Repentance and Mortification are some other thing then Faith How farre the Law draweth a sinner to Christ. Both Law and Gospel in the letter equally unable to draw a sinner to Christ. The difference betweene the Law and Gospel in the matter not in that manner of â—oâ—king that Antinomians conceive How law and love work diveâ—sly A power to command and a power to punâ—sh are two dâ—fferent powers Pag. 137. Hâ—w love and law work in us now The particular manner of drawing is unknown to us God is various in his dispensation in drawing souâ—e 〈◊〉 some râ—ughly some that to their sense they can tell you day and hour they were borne over againe others are drawne but know not when where or how A confluence of mercy in conversion Two wayes of drawing sinners Morall and Physicall (a) Rise â—eign c. er 9. pag. 2. (b) Er. 39. pag. 8 (c) Er. 40. pag. 8. (d) Francis Cornwell A Conference of M. Cotton at Boston with the Elders of New-England Pag. 17 18. Libertines deny all morall working of the word That there is a morall working of the worâ— Inspirations without Scripture vaine Some Propheticall impulsions have beene in many of our first Reformers and others that succeeded them but these are not ordinary rules of rejecting Scriptures Christ is a rationall object Sinners arâ—ue â—re thâ—â—â—ee drâ—wne to Christ. The oratory of Christ is effectuall Christs mâ—ver 〈◊〉 â—s thrâ—ugh love Christs love 〈◊〉 is 1. Vâ—olâ—â—t 2. 〈…〉 4. Reâ—ll 5 Lovâ—ly 〈◊〉 Christs love spâ—edy and swift aâ— a Roe In drawing there is lâ—ssâ— will then in leading Christ drâ—wes powerfully compassionatly patiently Redemption and drawing by free love sweeter then by strict law Drawiâ—g stroâ—g and easie 〈…〉 consentiâ—g to be drawâ— aâ—d there an end The way of loves working through delight is sweet and conquering Evincing and binding lovelinesse in Christ in divers respects The vertues of Christ. Sweet relations in Christ. Christs Kingdome a drawiâ—g thing in divers considerations Christ himself the drawingst Lover in heaven and his vertues againe holden forth Drawing arguments in Christ from beauty gaine honour Of the beauty of God Foure things in beauty that are by proportion in God What the beauty of God is The beauty in Chrâ—sts person The beauty of a communion with Christ. Delectatioâ— in gâ—dlinâ—sse to all the spirituall seâ—sâ—s Christ dâ—lâ—ghtfâ—ll to all the senses Christs voice sweet Christ sweet to the taste Reall gaine in Christ in divers partâ—â—â—lars Richâ—s uncertaine No markâ—t or bâ—yiâ—g of Christ. Reall honâ—ur in comming to Christ in divers iâ—stancâ—s How highly God esteemeth of his Saints Vse A survay of Christ. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How caâ—aâ—ious and gâ—eat Christs loâ—â— is Libertines the grand enemies of grace Vse 1. The sweetnesse of a communion with God far above the pleasures of sin Great things reported of the wayes of Christ. Christ 〈◊〉 pâ—â—ssible Object 1. Godiiâ—â—sse nâ— sad life The dâ—scipline oâ— christs house not rough â—ut to naturall 〈◊〉 â—punc The manner of the Lords drawing the will The Lord worketh by proportion in drawing the will The Lord by holy wiles and art draweth the will The learned Gentleman M. Ed. Liegh in Critica Sacra on the old Test. thinketh not without good reason that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to perswade comes from this The Lords grace bewitcheth and charmeth the will * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mussiâ—are submissa voce loqui quod occulâ—um velis 2 Sâ—m 12 19. So Isai. 3.3 the prudent and wise man hâ—th such a name as to charme and bewitch as â—loquent Orators doe or Exorcists and Conâ—urers of Spirits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conjungere sociare by enchanting Deut. 18.11 Isai. 47.9 Septuaginta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ worketh on the wâ—ll by internall application God cannot be the Creator of the will but hee must effectually turne it whither soever hee pleaseth The word and the Spirit Meanes are accommodated to conversion Time sitted of God for conversion God converts every man beside his intension A fit word must be in conversion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a wheele Prov 20.26 What congruous vocation or the new calling and conversion of sinners devised by Jeâ—uits the Pelagians living agâ—in is The Arminian calling and conversion The conversion of Protestant Divines Rom. 9.17.18 Reasons against the Iesuites congruous conversion of sinners drawing one not another The middle science fancied by Iesuites and Arminians to be in
a worke of the old man What it is to put off the old man and to be poore in Spirit according to the divinitie of Familists What is sinne to Familists God is man to Familists The mind of Familists touching heaven and hell Page 24 25 Page 25. The excellency divinity necessity of the Scriptures as the meanes of our union with Christ. Gen. 17.1 Psal. 50 1. Isai. 44.24 Exod 20.1 2. Psal. â—9 7 8 9 10. 1 Cor. â— 23. Ioh 3 3â— 1 Cor. 1.23 â—â—el â— 1 2. Psal â— 9 8. Rom 15 4. Rom 7 7. Zâ—pâ— â— 1â— Zâ—ch 13 2. Acts 5. â—9 Acts â— 5 20. Phil. â—â— â—2 13. Gen. 3.15 Dan 9.24 Matth. 1.18 Acts 10.43 Psal 119.129 138.172 Dâ—ut 4.5 6. 2 Pet. 1.19 Heb. 4.12 All ordinances are creatures and not the ultimate object of faith Ordinances not our blessednesse but God onely The rise of Familisme No ceasing of the use of Ordinances in this â—ife What an union there is between Christ and the Saints in this life The soule injoying Christ here both at rest and in motion How the desiâ—es are swallowed up in Christ and how in him thâ—y are perfected The abundant satisfaction for the soule in Christ illustrated in five expressions The wonderfuâ—l charge and new beautie the soule acquireth by an union with God in this life The Familists heaven and hell refuted We lose not our selves in injoying Christ. God is not the being of things as Familists say A holy man is not God incarnate or deified as Familists blasphemously say How creatures hâ—ve no being being compared with God and yet have truely a borrowed being Creatures without sin may desire to keepe and to seek their sinlesse being and themselves God seekâ—th himselfe and his owne glory most of all withoâ—t any impeaâ—hment of his spotlesse holinesse When the soule injoyeth Christ it acteth in Christ. When the soule injoyeth Christ Christ draweth admiration and love out of it Christs beauty and excellency of it selfe inviteth comers The soule filled with God is so far above created lovers that they lose all capacity to reach it The soul overcomed with the love of Christ. Insinuations of Christs tendernesse of bowels to sinners What sparkles of grace all have The creature restored from its forfeiture in Christ. The place Rom. â—0 18. have they not heard c. is not for universall grace and is clearly expounded Their sound is gone out throâ—gh all thâ— earâ—â— Râ—m 1 is not a â—tâ—tion of bâ—t an allusion to the place Psâ—l 19 and can be understood of none â—ut the Apostles How all have sufficient grace No salvation without the Gospel preached 1. Question Touching universall grace 2. Question touching absolute election to glory and so of reprobation 3 Quest. touching Gods good wil to save and redeeme all in Jesus Christ. Arminians are for sâ—x universalities in the matter of Gods good will to save and redeeme all without exception An universall intention of God to save al Vniversall redemption of all An universall covenant of grace made with all and every mortall man Vniversal reconciliation and justification of all Vniversal vocation and dâ—awing of all Vâ—iveâ—sâ—ll 〈◊〉 grace given to all and every one by which they may if they will conquer the Gospell coversion salvation Vniversal apostacie or perseverance â—f all The Elect are 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Pointed out with the finger Designed by their countrey Inrolled in a booke and written in heaven Particularly marked betweene the Father and the Sonne The sheep that Christ dyed for are particularly designed and circumscribed with such nots as are in none other Creation larger thâ—n Redemption The 〈…〉 Election and redemption aâ—e of the same spherre and exâ—ention so as they no commensuâ—â—ble Remonst Script Sinod aâ— 2. Redemptio seâ— reconciliatio nihil aliud est quam patus offensâ—ae placatio sive actio sive passio talis qua ossenso alicui satisfit hactenus ut in gratiam cum â—o qui ossendit reâ—ire velit Reâ—onciliationis hujus essectus 〈◊〉 divinae gratiae impetratio id est restitutio in talem staâ—â—â— in quo deus nobis non obstanie an plius justitia vindicatrice secundum misericorâ—iae â—uae astectum de novo sua beneficia communicare potest vult ea lege modo quo â—psi videtur per cam enim salvandi affectus qui fuit in deo ex misericordiae 〈◊〉 naturali aclato impedimento in plenarium voluntatâ—s propositum qâ—â—si exâ—â—t Remonst Necessitas distinctior is inter impetrationem applicationem apparet quod impetratio ex naturà rei ipsius etiam si aliter futurum esse certo Deus noverit posset sarta recta manere etiam si nulli essent quibus applicaretur aut qui fructum morris Christs suâ culpâ perciperent The Arminian distinction of a redemption purchased to all but never applyed or which may be applyed to none vaine and comfortlesse RedeÌ„ption was purchased by Christ out of-an efficacious intention that it should be applyed to Gods chosen ones not to keepe within himselfe How Christ is the Redeemer of the world A propitiation for the sins of the world by no Scripture or reason can be a power to transact with men for remission of sins in a Gospell-way or a Law-way 1 Pet. 2.24 explained and Isai. 53.6 The Lord laid on him the iniquities of us all The new English Arminiaâ—s worse then â—â—e old 2 Cor. 5.14 15. explained 1 Tim. 1.4 How Christ gave himselfe a ransome for all Mr. Moores objections removed No warâ—â—nt in the Word to pray for all and every one without exception God will have none to be saved by the Arminian way M. Moor Vniversall atâ—onement c. 11. p. 55 56. Mr. Moor ib. God quickneth not men dead in sins as they are suâ—h but aâ— they aâ—e châ—sâ—n of him Christ died not for â—inners as sinners nor for the righteous as râ—ghteous but for sinners as chosen to glory Moor p. 57. How Christ died not for obstinate sinners Page 58. How Christ died for beleevers Câ—rists thing for sinneâ—s thâ— high 〈◊〉 oâ— love Moore p 59. Pag. 60.61 Pag. 67. Joh 1.9 behold the lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world vindicated What is the taking away of sinne Remonstr 1â— Scrip. Syno Arminian conditions of preaching the Gospel never revealed in thousands and so cannot oblige them to perform these conditions Christs Dominion is not a naked power to save such as may consist with the damnation of all The intrinsecall end of Christs death actuall reconciliation sanctification and salvation of â—is redeemed ones Christ having died hath not freedome by his death to transact with sinners by a covenant of grace or any other way because his dying is an essentiall Article of the Covenant of Grace All the comfortable relations in Christ as King Head Husband Shepherd Priest c. are nothing but empty words if the end of Christs death be only a possible salvation There is as good ground in
from the love of God The love of God is prior to our faith to redemption to a Mâ—diâ— or oâ— shedding of blood To beleeve is not to 〈…〉 was justifâ—ed eâ—e â—ver I beleeved Grace changeth both the principles the action and the State The head of grace acteth in all the members moves their naturall faculties The actuall influence of gâ—ace is most necessarie to every act above nature Christ only not a creature Man or Angel can calme a sâ—ule-feaver of desertion The Lords deniall of grace falls under a threefold consideration Asser. The freedome of grace evidenced highly in Angâ—ls The freedome of grace is evidenced in the conversion of one man not of another Wee are to pray and 〈…〉 our sâ—lvâ—s to supernaturall duâ—iâ—s when we are â—ndisposed We are obliegâ—d to pray when under â—ndisposition 〈◊〉 Flâ—sh and spirit in their severall ups and downes in one and the same prayer Assert 1. In what casâ—s God useth to 〈◊〉 are his influence We are to stirr up grace in ourselves and â—low the mâ— How oâ—r â—ot praying and sinfull omissions are wâ—llfull sinnes even though we be indisposed and not Masters of the Lords predeterminating grace How we leave God â—re hee leave us and God leaves us first also How we are to beleeve the Lord will joyn his influence of actuall grace for our perseveâ—ance Christ cannot be weary of bâ—ing gracious Grace aâ— immoâ—tal sparkle and ray of God Wicked mens impotâ—ncy to comâ— to Châ—â—st essentially wilfull Naturall men do not obtaine Christ as they can doe If natural men shoâ—ld see they wâ—uld be much affectâ—d with Christ. The condition of Chrâ—sts drawing Christs dying a leaving oâ— the earth Grounds of leaving of the earth The earth the slaughter hous of the Saints The earth the Saints Pilgrimes-Innes The earths Dooms day The earth is a shoâ—t induring stage The earth a poore narrow piece We should willâ—ngly leave the earth and follow Christ. Ioh. 14.2 Psal. 146.4 Christs dying a special ground of mortification Thâ— manner of Christs dying speaketh the love we ow to him To be crucified to the world what it is How base the world is to a Saint Denne his doctrine of Iohn Baptist pag. 48. (b) Rise Reigne unsavory speeches cr 7. pag. 10. Antinomians fleshly doctrin of mortification (c) Free Grace chap. pag. 84.85 (d) Free Grace chap. 3. observ 5. pag. 60. (e) pag. 66. Chap. 18. pag. 450 Si Dei samus veterem hominem iâ— nobis crucifigi oport re veterum Adamum interire Antinomian Mortification is the brood of the fleshly senslesnes of the old Libertines pag. 541. Quia hoe Ade peccatum suit comedere de fractuscientiâ—e boni mali Sic ex Libertinorum sententia veterem Ada mum mortifica renihil aâ—rud est quam nâ—d dis cernere quasi ma icognitione sublata ac puero um more naturalem sensum etque inclinationem sequi huâ—c Orationi Locos Scripturae accommodant quibus puertis simplicitas commendatur 451. Calvi ibid. Pag 451. Calvin Ibid. Si quem vident mali consciâ—ntia moveâ—i O Adam inqâ—iu nt adhâ—nâ— aâ—iquid cernis vetus homo nondum in te câ—ucifixus est Si quem videant â—â—moâ—e iudicii divini percelli adhuc inqu unt pomi gustum Labes cave ne buccella ista te strangulet si quis peccata sua considerans sibi displceâ—â— ac marore afâ—â—siatur seccatum adâ—uc in ipso regnare aiunt sensu carnis sâ—ae captivum teâ—eâ—i Calvin opuse advers Libert cap. 13. p 451. Vtautem inquâ—t sacilius Libeâ—tinorum turpitudo innotescat Noâ—andu est peccatum mundum carnem Veterem hominem nihil aliud esse apud ipsos quam id quol oâ—inatioâ—em vocant Sic modo ne amplius opiâ—emur ex emum sententia non peccamus sub haâ— autem opinat one comprehendunt omnem synteresin scrupulum dâ—inque omnem sensum judicii qui nullâ—m habent rationâ—m peccati ipsum pro nihilo ducentes novas creaturas vocant quod ab opinatione vacni sâ—nt sicque nulâ—um in se peccatum habeant En in quo censtituunt beneficium redemptionis per Christum facte nempe quod opinâ—tionâ—m illam â—estruxit quae Adam culpa in mundum ingressa cum haec opinatio abolita est nulâ—us ex eorum sententia supeâ—â—st aut mundus aut diabolus nullum enim alum à quo insestentur inimicum habent The sinnes of the justified to Antinomians are not sins in themselves and in the sight of God but only sins to their crooked sense and erroneous opinion What sense and feelâ—ng oâ— sinne is to Antinomians Calvin p. 452. Fioguaâ— regeneration in â—star Angelici esse status in qâ—o â—omo deâ—i quere aut labi non possit cum reprehendâ—â—tur de mâ—lesiciis dic in t se illâ— minimè admisisse sed Asinum suum Not to feele sin is mortification to both Antinomâ—ans now and to Lâ—bertines of old M Toâ—n asser 〈◊〉 free 〈◊〉 pag. 7. Calvâ—n Instructi adver â—â—beâ—â—i cap. 1â— pag 455. Pâ—â—mum cum Scripâ—uâ—ae â—stendaâ—tâ—â—s a lâ—gis mâ—ldâ—â—â—ione exemp os esse siâ—que in libertatâ—m vind catos c. subâ—aiâ— omni distinctione â—olâ—m legem abolere volunt inquiente nullam amplius ejuâ— aâ—â—onâ—m bahâ—â—daâ—â— Calvin 16 Iâ—eâ—nque â—ulla extat 〈…〉 remittit â—o sideâ—es tanquam ad benâ— viâ—eâ—d regalam ad quant 〈◊〉 conformaâ—iâ— deâ—et (f Pag. 68. (g) Pag. 66.67 (h) Pag. 70 71· (i Rise Reign oâ—â—or 16. p 4. k Error 12. pag. 3. (l) Vnsavory speeches error 6. pag. 19. How a Convert cannot fall in the same sinne after conversion that he committed before conversion (m) Saltmarshs free-grace p. 70. Sorrow for sin is habituall in the Saints Denne Doctrin of I. Baptist p. 48. Mortification is not formally an apprehension of the miâ—d nor an act of faith as Antinomians say Mortification is a deadnesse of the powers of the soule to the pleasures of the creature The Scripture holds forth a reall and physicall and personall mortification inherent in us and saith nothing or the putative or apprehensive morâ—ification in Christ. If one Gospel pâ—ecept for â—cts oâ— sanctâ—ficaâ—ion lâ—y no oâ—ligâ—tâ—on or personall or inherent obediâ—â—ce on us then neiâ—her caâ— any of them aâ— alâ— oâ—lige us Crisp Serm. 4. voluâ— 2. pag. 1. â— Antinâ—mâ—ans deny any sin to be in the â—ustâ—fiâ—d and so that they can siâ— or that the body of sinne can be sinne Denne Serm. The man of sin discovered pag. 9.10.11 12 13. Mr. Dennesâ—leâ—hly â—leâ—hly distinâ—tion of sin in the conâ—cience 〈…〉 in the conversation reâ—uted No sin in the jâ—stâ—fied accordiâ—g to the Antinomians Sin in the conversatiâ—n is â—n in the conscience and before God Mortification is in abstaining from siâ— and in the remissenes and faintnes of the powers of the soul to act sinne To live be 〈…〉 sanctification aâ— the 〈◊〉 A sinner as a sinner not humbled iâ— noâ— to believe â—pplicâ—â—orily The mortificatiâ—n of David George (a) Risâ— Râ—ign
walke by faith not by sight So we are to beleeve our repentance true in him who hath repented for us our mortifying sinne true in him through whom we are more then conquerors our new obedience true in him who hath obeyed for us and is the end of the Law to every one that beleeveth our change of the whole man true in him who is righteousnesse and true holinesse And thus without faith its unpossible to please God This is Scripture-assurance to see every one in himselfe as nothing and himselfe every thing in Christ Faith is the ground of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen All other assurances are rotten conclusions from the Word invented by Legall Teachers not understanding the mystery of the Kingdome of Christ. The Scriptures bid you see nothing in your selfe or all as nothing These teachers bid you see something in your selfe so as the leaving out Christ in Sanctification is the foundation of all doubts feares distractions And he that looketh on his repentance on his love on his humility on his obedience and not in the tincture of the bloud of Christ must needs beleeve weakely and vncomfortably Answer If a servant of sinne any Cain wakened with the terrors of God see his sinnes feele hell in his soule for them and have no warme thoughts of love and farre-off-affiance at least in Christ Jesus but flee from Christ and goe to the enemies of Christ for comfort as Judas did hee may strongly conclude I feele I am not sanctified I hate the Physitian Christ and runne from him Ergo I am not justified And from a true reall non-feeling of sanctification it s a strong consequence there 's no justification But from a mis-prizing of Grace and Sanctification in my selfe I cannot conclude I am not justified We know Papists in point of certaintie of salvation argue so many deluded Hypocrites beleeve or imagine they have oyle in their lamps yet they are deceived therefore the Saints can have no certainty they are in Christ. It s just like the answer now in hand A mis-judging of sanctification cannot argue no justification Ergo A true and reall judgement of no sanctification in Hypocrites and slaves of sinne cannot argue the persons to be justified who thus argue It is as if I should argue thus A frantick and a sleeping man cannot know that he is frantick and sleeping therefore a sober and a waking man cannot know that he is sober and waking For a deserted child of God is in some spirituall Phrensie and sleepe and does mis-prize Christ in himselfe and sanctification and therefore argueth often that he is not in Christ upon false principles But a wakened conscience in Cain and Judas doe strongly conclude I am not a new creature but a servant of sinne Ergo I am not justified and not in Christ and Cain in this consequence is sober and not asleepe 2. Not any Protestant Divine whom the Author calleth Legall Teachers ignorant of the mystery of the Gospel did ever teach that Faith new Obedience Repentance are grounds upon which God justifieth a sinner Antinomians who make Repentance and Mortification all one with Faith and as Master Den saith they are but a change of the minde to seeke righteousnesse and mortification in Christ not in our selves Thus much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie must say as wee are justified by faith so also by repentance and mortification if repentance be nothing but faith as they say 3. We seeke onely the evidence of justification in our holy walking as the Scripture doth 1 Pet. 1.24 Galat. 1.4 1 Pet. 1 18. 1 Joh. 3.14 Infinite places say these that live to Christ and are new Creatures must be in Christ and justified 2 Cor. 5.17 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11 12. Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.1 2 3 4. Then the arguing from the effect to the cause can be no rotten conclusion except by accident in a soule distempered under desertion and weakenesse 4. These places that make Christ our sanctification and Christ to live in us and beleevers to be the workemanship of Jesus created in him unto good workes c. Make not these to bee acts of Christ formally repenting perfectly in us sorrowing for sinne mortifying sinne perfectly in us as if wee were meere patients and were onely obliged to repent sorrow mortifie sinne when the Spirit breatheth â—n us and not otherwise as Libertines explaine themselves which I hope to refute hereafter 2. Nor doe these places make Justification and Regeneration all one as Master Towne with other Antinomians doe For we are not regenerated by faith but that we may beleeve but we are justified by faith 2. Regeneration putteth in us a new birth the image of the second Adam Justification formally is for the imputed righteousnesse of Christ which is in Christ not in us And it seemes to me that they make Justification and Sanctification all one for the Author saith that Christ not onely repenteth in us but for us Christ obeyed for us and is the end of the Law to every one that beleeveth Now what mysterious sense can be here I cannot dreame Sure it is no Gospel-secret if the meaning that Christ repenteth and obeyeth for us be that Christ by his grace worketh in us repentance and new obedience and mortification and the change of the whole man it s a good and sound sense But then how must all assurances from repentance and new obedience be the rotten conclusions of Legall Teachers To see all these wrought by Christ as the efficient and meritorious cause and to ascribe them to the Spirit of Jesus and thence conclude we are Justified as all Protestant Divines teach is no rotten conclusion of Legall Teachers For sure if we ascribe them to nature to free will to our selves and confide in them as parts of our righteousnesse and from them in that notion draw the assurance of our Justification as Papists and Arminians doe and as the Saints out of fleshly presumption may doe this is no doctrine of Protestants Is the Sunne obliged to me because I borrow light from it Or the Flouds and Rivers beholden to men because they drinke out of them The new man is a creature of Christs finding cursed bee they that sacrifice to Free-will It s a strange God The kingdome of grace is a Hospitall of free graces to sick men all we doe the least good thought or gracious motion in the soule is a flower and a rose of Christs planting and an Apple that grew on the tree of life a sinner is the stocke but free Grace the sap Christs Father the Husbandman life and growing is from Jesus the wine tree wee are but poore twigs that bring forth fruit in Christ. But I feare the sense of this that Christ repenteth for us and obeyeth for us he being the end of the Law to overy one that beleeveth be farre otherwise to wit that Christs obedience of the Law
love to all and every man nor gives he faith and salvation to all and every man yea the known and beleeved love of God in sending his Son to die for us is proper to the beleever 1 Ioh. 4.16.9 10. We have known and beleeved the love God hath to us God is love and he that dwelleth in love its a noble Princely pallace to lodge in dwelleth in God and God in him This cannot be said of the love that God beareth to the Reprobate yea and to the fallen Angels for Arminians say that God loved them with such a love but that love to Devils is now dried up long agoe and so that to Pharaoh Iudas Cain now in hell but this love is gone so dream they that love in God is like summer brooks that go dry in time of drought but the truth is Gods generall love to Arminians is a faint desire and a wish that all and every one men and Angels be saved and a bestowing on them means 1. Which the Lord knowes shall plunge them deeper in hell and make their everlasting chaines heavier and more fiery better he love them not 2. Such meanes as can be demonstrated free will without God or any determination or bowing to one hand rather then to another can and may absolutely master and over-master equally to conversion or obstinacy or to finall rebellion to salvation or damnation to make themselves free Princes and Lords of the book of life and the writing pen of eternall Election and Artists causes and masters of the decrees of Election or Reprobation For 1. Let God doe what he can or omnipotency or sweetnesse of free grace all that is possible free will hath the free and absolute casting of the ballance to will receive Christ open to the King of glory and be converted or to the contrary 2. In Election and Reprobation from eternity as Arminians in their last Apology goe no higher then time coepta est in temporo electio contra quam creditum est c. God doth no more in his generall decree for chusing of Jacob or Peter then of Pharaoh Esau or Judas but chuseth all indefinitely who shall beleeve But for the Assumption that Peter Iohn Pharaoh Judas Esau beleeve or not beleeve the eternall decree of God does nothing his means Gospel his inward grace such grace as they can grant doe no more nor can doe any more to determine the will to either side to beleeving or not beleeving then he can work contradictions or make free will and free obâ—dience to be no free will and no obedience for its repugnant say they to the nature of free-will that it should be determined by God And 〈…〉 such as is required of us now who are under commâ—â—â—ements threatnings promises were no obedience at all for if the Lord should determine the will say they and therefore Gods last decree of chusing those to life whom he foresees shall expire in faith and persevere to the end and of rejecting such as he foresees shall goe on in finall obstinacy against the Gospel is not any Scripturall decree of Election or Reprobation nor hath God any liberty in this to chuse this man not this man but all men chuse God and are foreseen finally to beleeve or not beleeve before and without any free decree of God so that the number of chosen Angels or men is in the power of the creatures free will not in the liberty of the former of all things so as we chuse God but God chuseth not us But 2. So none are within the compasse of Election or Reprobation but such as hear the Gospel and so all the Heathen are saved or damned by chance or without any will or decree of God or they must be neither capable of salvation nor damnatâ—on contrary to Scripture and experience for terrible judgements temporall and great externall favours befall Indians Americans and such as never heard of Christ and not without the counsell of Gods will if there be a providâ—nce that rules the world 2. God doth nothing in the Election of Peter more then of Iudas nor can grace and mercy have place in the chusing of the one rather then the other but as free will is foreseen to play the game ill or well so goe the eternall decrees of Election and Reprobation and there can be no such thing as that grace and the free pleasure of God who hath mercy on whom he will or because he will and hardens whom he will can have any place here 4. The Scripture no where speakes of any love of God in Christ to man but such as is efficacious in saving any other love is lip-love not reall and so to alledge this one place without authoritie of the Word is petitio principii a begging of the question for the love Ezâ—ch 16.8 Called the time of loves was such as saved all that were to bâ— saved amongst the people of God and cannot be understood of such a love as God did bear to the Heathen and the Cannanits for it separates them from all the world so Deut. 7.7 Psal. 146.19.20 Isai. 51.1 2 3. Isai. 52.3 4. Psal. 132 1â— Psal. 1â—5 4 Zech. 3.2 1 King 1.13 2 Chron. 6.6 Isai. 4â— 8 9. Deut. 14.2 Isai. 43 20. Dan. 1â— 15. 1 Chron. 16.13 Ezech. 20.5 Act. 13.17 Yee shall not finde that the love of God in Christ can consist with Reprobation or Damnation in all the Scripture but by the contrary it is a love that Christ hath to his wife in giving himselfe for her sanctifying washing and presenting her without spot or wrinkle before 〈…〉 a husband-love Ephes. 5.25 26. Ghostâ—iâ—us â—iâ—us 3.4 5 6. a great love quickning us together with Christ saving us by grace raising us up and making us â—it together with Jesus Christ in heavenly places Ephes. 2.4.5 a love causing washing of us and advancing us to bee Kings and Priests to God Revel 1.5 6. a love to Paul in particular and working life in Paul Gal. 2.20 I live no more but Christ liveth in mee and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Sonne of God who loved mee and gave himselfe for me It is the love of God our Father who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace 2 Thes. 2.16 an everlasting love Jer. 31.3 a love before the foundation of the world Ephes. 1.3 4 before we doe good or evill Rom. 9.11 Not a love that fals to nothing by a consequent act of hatred nor a love to which the hatred of reprobation may succeed every hour and out of which wee may bee decourted a love that puts the honour of sonnes on us 1 Ioh. 3.1 It is a saving and a pittying love Isai. 63.9 a love which the Lord rests in Zeph. 3.17 a love continuing to the end Ioh. 13.1 a love that makes us more then conquerors Râ—m 8.37 It is a separating love