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A43607 Syntagma theologicum, or, A treatise wherein is concisely comprehended, the body of divinity, and the fundamentals of religion orderly discussed whereunto are added certain divine discourses, wherein are handled these following heads, viz. 1. The express character of Christ our redeemer, 2. Gloria in altissimis, or the angelical anthem, 3. The necessity of Christ's passion and resurrection, 4. The blessed ambassador, or, The best sent into the basest, 5. S. Paul's apology, 6. Holy fear, the fence of the soul, 7. Ordini quisque suo, or, The excellent order, 8. The royal remembrancer, or, Promises put in suit, 9. The watchman's watch-word, 10. Scala Jacobi, or, S. James his ladder, 11. Decus sanctorum, or, The saints dignity, 12. Warrantable separation, without breach of union / by Henry Hibbert ... Hibbert, Henry, 1601 or 2-1678.; Hibbert, Henry, 1601 or 2-1678. Exercitationes theologiae. 1662 (1662) Wing H1793; ESTC R2845 709,920 522

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12.1 Remember thy Creators Isa 42.5 Thus saith God the Lord he that created the Heavens and they that stretched them out The Psalmist Ps 33.6 By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth That is God the Father by the Son through the Holy Ghost created all Psal 67.6 7. Some observe God is thrice named here to note the Trinity of persons When Moses beginneth to rehearse the Law and to explain it the first thing that he teacheth them is the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity Deutr. 6.4 Hear O Israel the Lord our God the Lord is One Three words answering the three Persons Galatinus and the middle word Our God deciphering fitly the second who assumed our nature Jarchi as is well observ'd by Galatinus R. Solomon Jarchi writing on that Cant. 1.11 We will make c. interprets it I and my Judgment-hall Now a Judgement-hall in Israel consisted of three at least which in their close manner of speech they applied to God John 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it Austin and was glad Abraham in these words acknowledgeth the Mystery of the Trinity saith Austin Add unto these Cottons 7. Vial. p. 5. what Mr. Cotton hath out of Brightman on Rev. 4.3 God is here resembled saith he by three precious stones holding forth the three Persons in Trinity A Jasper having as they say a white Circle round about it representing the Eternity of the Father A Sardine stone of a fleshly colour representing Jesus Christ who took our flesh upon him An Emrald being of a green colour refreshing the eyes of them that look upon it representing the Spirit who is as the Rainbow a token of fair weather and is a comfortable refresher wheresoever he cometh There was Concilium augustissimum as one terms it a most Majestical meeting of the three Persons in Trinity about the work of mans Creation Gen. 1.26 And afterwards about his Redemption Mat. 3.16 17. So likewise in the matter of mans Sanctification remarkable is that of the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7. where the diversities of gifts are said to be of the Spirit The diversities of Ministeries whereby those gifts are administred of the Lord that is of Christ And the diversities of operations effected by the gifts and Ministeries to be of God that is the Father When Jesus was baptized prayed the Heavens were opened and the Aire clarified by a new and glorious light and the Holy Ghost in the manner of a Dove alighted upon his Sacred Head and God the Father gave a voice from Heaven Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased This was the greatest meeting that ever was upon Earth where the whole Cabinet of the mysterious Trinity was opened and shewn as much as the capacities of our present imperfections will permit The second Person in the vail of Humanity the third in the shape or with the motion of a Dove But the first kept his primitive state and as to the Israelites He gave notice by way of Caution Ye saw no shape but ye heard a voyce So now also God the Father gave testimony to his holy Son and appeared only in a voyce without any visible representment Also in the transfiguration of Christ the Son standeth the Father by his voyce witnesseth and the Holy Ghost overshadows him in a Cloud as before by a Dove Now the pur-blind Progeny of Adam being able to discern no clearer of the Godhead than he in the Gospel which saw men walking like Trees O blindness more than gross not to see or seeing not to discern when the Sun it self lodgeth in his Zenith Therefore many have ransack't Nature for Mediums to perswade the Doctrine of the Trinity One tells us That a Spring begets a River and that from both are derived smaller Brooks all which make but one water Another shews a Root from which riseth a Body and from thence Branches yet all but one Tree Another Dyonis de divin nomin 5.2 the Trinity may be shadow'd forth though but darkly by light the Father being as the body of light the Son as the beams and the Holy Ghost as the splendour of both Dionysius illustrateth it by the similitude of three Candles Dam●s●● de fid l. 1. c. 4. enlightning one and the same Room And Damascen of the Parelii when there appear as it were three and yet it is but one Sun And thus as difficult as the thing is Divines both Ancient and Modern Vid. Zanch. de tribus Elohim l. 8 c. 6. have in their Writings brought many similitudes and resemblances to express it by Amongst them all this is one of the clearest viz. The light of the Sun the light of the Moon and the light of the Aire all which are for nature and substance one and the same light and yet are they notwithstanding three distinct lights too Mr. Perkins on the Creed for the light of the Sun is of it self and from no other the light of the Moon is from the Sun and the light of the Aire is from them both So the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are all one simple and undivided Godhead but yet three distinct Persons the Father having the foundation of Personal subsistence from himself and from no other the Son from the Father of whom he is eternally begotten and the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son from both which he eternally proceedeth And God said let us make man in our Image after our likeness Holy Holy Holy Gen. 1.26 Isa 6.3 is the Lord of Hosts Jesus went up straight way out of the water the Spirit of God descending like a Dove lighted upon him And lo a voyce from Heaven Mat. 3.16 17. saying This is my Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased Jesus was transfigured Matth. 17.2 5. a bright Cloud overshadowed them and behold a voyce out of the Cloud c. Go Matth. 28.19 and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost For he received from God the Father honour and glory 2 Pet. 1.17 when there came such a voyce to him from the excellent glory 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one De Christo THE second person in the glorious Trinity is God the Son Jesus Christ The Name Jesus signifieth a Saviour so he was called before at Nomen Jesu salutis ben ficium quod ab illo expectandum denotat and after his birth A Saviour considering his Potency able to save considering his Habit proclaimed by the Angel at his Conception he shall save or regard his Act hence call'd Jesus at his Circumsion Or look into his Passion where he was Victus Victor unloosing others himself being
the twelve Tribes of Israel He went into the Sanctum Sanctorum once a year and offered up the prayers of the people Besides him there were a great number of Priests and Levites throughout all the towns and Cities of Israel they offered the sacrifices of the people and made attonement for them before the Lord they taught the people and instructed them in the ways of the Lord. Yet all these are nothing to our Saviour Christ he excells them as much as the Sun doth the Starres or the body the shadow They were all but shadows of him he is the true high-Priest They were but men he is God and man they sinful he without sin they mortal he immortal their sacrifices were but figures of his sacrifice the blood of Lambs Goats offered by them took away no sin his blood purgeth us from all sin they received tithes of their brethren but they themselves paid tithes to Christ they prayed for the people in the Temple Christ prayes for us in heaven Wherein we may behold the supereminent dignity of Christ his Priest-hood It cannot be denied but that Aarons Priest-hood was most glorious As the Psalmist speaketh of the Church many glorious things are recorded of it There was a costly Tabernacle a sumptuous Temple the wonder of the world there was an admirable Altar many oblations and sacrifices there were sundry Sabbaths and new Moons divers festival days the feast of unleavened bread of the blowing of Trumpets of Tabernacles of Dedication c. Which were kept with wonderful solemnity there were many washings and purgings for the clensing of the people Therefore let us magnifie God for this our high-priest by whom we have an entrance into the Kingdom of heaven The high Priest went into the Holy of Holies himself but he carried none of the people with him they stood without Our high-Priest is not only gone into heaven himself but he hath also brought us thither That high-priest offered Bulls Calves Lambs for the sins of the people this high-priest offered himself for us all Therefore let us honour and reverence this our high-priest yea let us subject our selves to him in all things which hath made us Kings and Priests to God his Father that we may reign with him for ever and ever The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a Priest for ever Psal 110.4 after the order of Melchisedeck For such an high-Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens Hebr. 7.26 27. Who needeth not daily as those high-Priests to offer up sacrifice first for his own sins and then for the peoples for this he did once when he offered up himself Seeing then that we have a great high-Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession Heb. 4.14 16. And let us come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need Of Christs Prophetical Office Christ is said to be a Prophet like unto Moses that is both in the Participation of nature and of office A true man and a true Mediatour Similes they are but not Pares Christ being worthy of more glory than Moses Christ is a Prophet and more than a Prophet the Arch-Prophet to whom Moses and all must vail bonnet Let our mind then be wholly fixed on Christ consider that in him all the treasures of wisdom lie hid he is a rich and plentiful store-house in whom we may find all the pearls and jewels of wholesome doctrine In him there is salvation and in no other therefore all other teachers set aside listen to him When the Judge of an Assizes gives the charge all that be present especially they of the grand Inquest consider seriously what is spoken Christ Jesus the Judge of the whole world gives a charge by his Ministery When the King makes a Speech in Parliament the whole House considers earnestly what he sayes Christ Jesus the King of kings speaks to us in the Ministery of the Word The Queen of Sheba observed Solomon well Behold here is a greater than Solomon therefore let us diligently consider him Besides the matters which this great Prophet declareth are of great moment touching the eternal salvation of our souls If one should talk to us of gold or silver we would be attentive Christ speaks to us of that which surpasseth all the riches in the world what mad-men are we that regard him no more But alas since the Fall every man hath Principium lasum his brain-pan crackt as to heavenly things neither can he recover till Christ open his eyes and give him light Moses truly said unto the Fathers Act 3.22 Quinque dicuntur de Deo Paternitas in nascibilitas filiatio proc ssio communis spiratio Aug. Paternitas innascibilitas conveniunt solum modò Patri Filiatio tantum modò Filio Spi●it●i verò Sancto processio Communis Spira●io Patri filio respectu Spiritus Sancti A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever I shall say unto you De Spiritu Sancto THE Holy Ghost is the third Person in Trinity proceeding from the Father and the Son being himself most holy and the worker of holiness in all Angels and good men He is distinct from the Father and the Son equal unto the Father and the Son and the same God in Nature and Essence with the Father and the Son though not the same person He is called The Spirit The Holy Spirit A Spirit because he is that essential vertue proceeding and as it were spired or breathed from the Father and the Son Or from his effect who blowing where he listeth inspireth holy motions and graces into the hearts of the Elect. Or because he is a spiritual invisible and incorporeal essence And Holy Spirit 1. For distinction sake for Gods Spirit is holy that is it hath all holiness and it hath it in it self not by illumination from any higher cause and so are not the spirits of Men or Angels holy mens spirits have sin in them on earth And the Angels and blessed souls in heaven have no holiness but what they received 2. Gods Spirit is holy by effect for it is his proper work to sanctifie the Elect and so to work holiness upon the spirits of men by spiritual regeneration The Holy Ghost is oft-times in Scripture signified by Fire Water We shall find it according to the nature of fire 1. To illighten us 1. Mat. 3.11 Isa 4.4 as the least spark of fire lightens it self at least and may be seen in the greatest darkness 2. To enliven and revive us fire is the most active of all other elements as having much form little matter so whatsoever is born of the Spirit is Spirit that is nimble and active full of life and motion
to be the chief good or deny him to be God He is holy too as he is man time was when he stood at defiance with the world John 8.46 Which of you convinceth me of sinne He did as every Minister should do vivere conscionibus concionari moribus live Sermons as well as preach them What an ancient Monke said of Saint Dunstane sometimes all Englands Metropolitane is more true of him he is vir totus ex virtutibus factus a man wholly composed of grace who according to Saint Peters report did no sin 1 Per. 2 22. neither was there guile found in his mouth The Devil who is Antonomastically stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Tempter Matth. 4.3 with all his black Art could not infect his righteous soul he was free from yeelding to his temptations not from his tempting for as saith the Apostle We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities Hebr. 4.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin He was holy not only legally as were the Leviticall Priests consecrated to the sacred services of the most high but morally too in a most absolute and exact conformity to the Divine Law hence is that speech of Russinus on the Creed Russinus Aquilei in Symbol Apostal Nil ibi turpe putandum est ubi sanctificatio spiritus inerat we must not have so much as a thought of any foulnesse of evil to be there where the holy Ghost took full possession by a total sanctification Where the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelt bodily Acts 3.14 't were impiety to imagine that the least unholinesse had any being there 'T is his peculiar title to be called the holy one and the just To make this his holiness clear as the Sun free from any cloud of black aspersion that a captious spirit might raise the Apostle addes three other Attributes which serve as a demonstration not to be contradicted he is harmlesse undefiled seperate from sinners The first quits him of all natural pravity wherewith the sons of Adam are originally infected the other of all blemishes of actual trespassing which defile the man the last of that guilt which through the transgression of the Law sinful men are subject In his conception he was without sinne so was he in his nativity thus harmless in his conversation upon earth he was blameless and unreprovable in the sight of God thus undefiled every way guiltless not incurring the least displeasure of his heavenly Father thus seperate from sinners For such an High-Priest became us He was harmless and innocent Aug. and that in his conception in his birth wherefore Saint Augustine speaking saith that Genus humanum Christus assumpsit non autem crimen humanum Christ in being the Son of man assumed the nature of man not the sin of man for his untainted Virgin-Mother blessed among women highly favour'd of the most high was overshadowed with the power of the highest by the coming of the holy Ghost upon her by which power she so miraculously conceived beyond the course of nature in her sacred womb that therein the Son of God became the Son of man the Word was made flesh But that son of man that flesh was without contagion that body which was prepared for him to be Domus divinitatis the house of the divinity as it is termed must needs have been sanctified for that holy use It was the work of the Spirit to purify that selected substance thereby to make it fit to be united to the second Person of the Trinity Sent. l. 3. D. 3. A. Wherefore saith Lombard that flesh which God vouchsafed personally to unite unto himself of the immaculate Virgin Sine vitio concepta sine peccato nata est was conceived without any pollution and born without any sin Yet was it not of an heavenly or of an aerial nature or of any other save of that same Cujus est omnium hominum care saith the same Author whereof is that flesh of all men But it was not so framed in the woman as ours it was sanctified by divine power ours is infected by natural Propagation Nam corporis nestri habuit pollutionem peccati non habuit said Origen his flesh had the nature of our body not sin the corruption of our nature Origen in Rom. 8. the Apostle averres that he was made in the likenesse of man Phil. 2.7 Like unto us in all things sinne only excepted That man to use Saint Hilaries phrase grounded on the Apostleo words Non fuit caro peccati Hilar. in l. 10. de Trinit sed similitudo carnis peccati was not the flesh of sin or sinful flesh but the likeness of sinful flesh Great is the difference betwixt similitude and identity 't is true that as he took our nature upon him so our infirmities wherein he was like to us but they were such as were void of evils none of them in him being defectus culpae Aquin. Sum. as the Schoolmen speak Criminal failings or weaknesses worthy blame but necessary consequences of our nature Whereupon Aquinas notes out of Gregory the great upon that part of the Angels discourse with the blessed Virgin That holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God That to distinguish betwixt his and our holiness it was foretold Christ should be born holy as for us we are not born holy but of unholy made holy but he is not made holy of unholy but born holy hence called Acts 4.27 The hely child Jesus In conclusion should any now demand of me in what manner I conceive the Word was made flesh without sin in what manner precisely the conception the assumption the union was effected whereby our nature in Christ was elevated to the perfection it attained unto in him With Chrysostom I ingeniously professe Chrysost in Rom. 1. Hom. 5 I know not 't is a mystery to be adored to be believed not to be curiously searcht into This much I know that there have been four wayes of making man One was the making man without either man or woman so was Adam made the second was to make man without a woman so was Eve made the third was to make man both by man and woman so we their posterity are made the last way was to make man without man by woman only and so was Christ made man who notwithstanding was not polluted by being in the Virgins womb no more than the Sun in the firmament receives infection from any place it shines upon here below From this transcendent purity of our High-Priests conception and birth whereby he is harmlesse there is aforded us a double comfort 1. By it the faithful are justified from the unholinesse of their impure conceptions Tales nos amat Deus quales futuri sumus ipsius dono non quales sumius nostro meritro Concil Arausican secund Canon
all the calamities of this life here the children of God are oftentimes made the wickeds footstools they sit on them and tread on them A rich man though wicked shall be more esteemed Here they sit as forlorn persons none regards them Many times they sit weeping and wailing for their sins for their sufferings But let this comfort us against them all how contemptible soever we sit here we shall sit with Christ Jesus though not in that degree of glory yet in the same Kingdom of glory with him for ever This man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever Heb. 10.12 sate down on the right hand of God Cap. 8.1 We have such an High Priest who is set on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens To which of the Angels said he at any time sit on my right hand Cap. 1.13 until I make thine enemies thy footstool Intercession The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is attributed in Scripture both to Christ and the Spirit but when it is attributed to the Spirit it is rendred by Comforte when to Christ by Advocate And not without reason since the Spirits work is to speak comfortably to us and Christs to plead powerfully for us It is said The Holy Ghost maketh intercession for us yet the Holy Ghost is not our Intercessor He doth not in our nature pray for us as Christ doth Rom. ● 26 but he teacheth us to pray Neither doth he in his own person make intercession with sighs and groans for the Holy Ghost cannot sigh and groan but he stirres up to it Christus Oratur à nobis As the Father Orat in nobis By his holy Spirit Orat pro nobis As our Advocate Oramus Ad illum Per illum In illo Aug. Ad Deum non opus est suffragatore sed mente devotâ for Christ is our eye whereby we see the Father and our mouth whereby we speak to the Father And none is in such favour with the Father as the only Son that lyeth in his bosome When Christ is said to intercede we must not imagine he doth it in heaven after the same manner he did when he was on the earth to fancy a supplicating voice bended knees with sighs and groans or with strong cries and tears This suiteth not with the Majesty of Christ in heaven neither doth he it after such a carnal manner But Christ is said to make intercession for us two kind of wayes 1. Non voce sed miseratione not by uttering any voice to his Father but by having pity and compassion on us 1. By a fourfold presentation Vnigenito filio Deum pro homine interpellare est apud coaeternum patrem s●ipsum hominë demonstrare Greg. l. 21. Moral c. 13. viz. 1. Of his Person in both natures Divine and Humane 2. Of his merit the force and efficacie of his Passion the recordation of his obedience 3. Of his will and desire in our behalf not in a begging or precarious way yet he signifieth it 4. Of our Prayers and Supplications which we make in behalf of our selves and others and the Prayers of the Church which she maketh in our behalf He perfumes our prayers with the odour of his sacrifice and so presents them to his Father The consideration of Christs perpetual intercession in Heaven for us may be singular comfort to all Christians Preces sacrisicii sai odore sanctificat Calv. We count him happy that hath a friend in the Court then how happy are we that have such a friend as Christ in the Court of Heaven Say on my Mother said Solomon to Bathsheba I will not say thee nay So saies God the Father to Christ Say on my Son make intercession for thy members I will not say thee nay Blessed are we that have such an Intercessor let us flie to him Only let us not grieve him with our sins but glorifie him by an holy life then we may boldly commence our suits to him and he will prefer them to his Father to our everlasting joy and comfort We have an Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2.1 Jesus Christ the righteous Christ is entred into heaven it self Hebr. 9.24 now to appear in the presence of God for us He ever liveth to make intercession for us Cap. 7.25 Predestination JNterpreters have observed Praedestinare nihil aut majus aut minus significat quàm destinare Chamierus that this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that signifies to predestinate is but six times found in the New Testament and never in the Old And it is used either De rebus concerning things twice Acts 4.28 and 1 Cor. 2.7 Or else De personis concerning persons four times Rom. 8.29 30. and Eph. 1.5 11. And so Significat non simpliciter praedestinare ad aliquid saith Mr. Leigh out of Zanchy Sed ita praedestinare ad aliquam rem ut etiam sines terminos constituas Qu●tenus pro objecto habet homines est aeternum et immutabile Dei decretum de suturo hominum statu aeterno Wendelinus quibus ad rem consequendam certò deducatur is quem praedestinasti puta media omnia tempus loca alia id genus They say it is never applied to Reprobates However Divines under Predestination do usually consider the Decree both of Election and Reprobation It will not be good for any to teach this Doctrine till they have well learned and digested it for about it have been many disputes with unhappy issue and it is a Doctrine which hath been if it be not by some at this day much misused and exagitated In Rom. 8. we see our calling was according to Gods purpose Crit. Sacr. so I say our calling justification glorification do depend upon Predestination not Predestination upon them Before Augustines time Prelates and Doctors of the Church some I meane having no occasion to enter into an exact handling of this point taught that men are Predestinated for the foresight of some things in themselves of which opinion was Augustine at first but after reclaimed But it seems the will of the Arminians hath made a foord in the depths of God it hath found out the wayes that are past finding out It made Paul stand at a stay and cry O the depth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but these lead along their Scholars that they passe over almost with dry feet The path of Election and grace is discovered and these men will tell you the reason of Gods counsel But we say and so doth the Scripture Elegit nos ab aterno ad gratiam ad gloriam ad salutem ad salutis viam quam praeparavit ut in ea ambulemus Act. 18.48 Crediderunt quotquot erant ordinati ad vitam etaernam Credere est effectum ordinationis The Turks use to say what is by God written in a mans forehead before his birth cannot in his life be a voided But let none be so
understood so Sin spiritually The Regenerate mans actions are as contrary to those that he did before as fire and water so that it may be said of him as it was once of Troy being taken Senec. Thalamis Troja perlucet novis every act word and work are all altered every chamber made new and swept to entertain the Object of the regenerate It was a strange change that Satan mentioned and motioned to our Saviour of turning stones into bread But nothing so strange as the work of Regeneration and Renovation a turning of stony hearts into hearts of flesh In this great work the substance of the Soul is the same only the qualities and operations are altered In Regeneration our natures are translated not destroyed no not our constitution and complexion The melancholy man doth not cease to be so after conversion only the humor is sanctified to a fitness for godly sorrow holy meditation c. and so of the other The fountain of blessed Immortality is the new birth which is the unmaking of a man and the making of him up again The whole frame of the old corrupt conversation is to be dissolved that a better may be erected The dignity and necessity of this work are motive enough to labour it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It s a being heaven born as the word imports from above and without it Heaven will be too hot a place to hold us A man with Job may come to curse the day of his first but shall never have occasion to curse the day of his new-birth Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God John 3.3 Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit vers 5. he nannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit vers 6. is Spirit Justification There is a twofold Justification by 1. Infusion 2. Imputation Justificare est ex imputatione justitiae Christi pro justo reputare Inquit Lorinus Jesuita in Psal 45. St. Paul saying we are justified by Faith without works Rom. 3.28 And St. James saying that we are justified by works and not by Faith only Jam. 2.24 may be thus reconciled His Sermon of Christ crucified pag. 68. There hath been saith Mr. Fox a long contention and much ado in the Church to reconcile these two places of Scripture but when all is said that may be said touching them there is none that can better reconcile these two different places than you your selves to whom we preach And how is that I will tell you saith he do you joyn the lively Faith that St. Paul speaks of with those good works that St. James speaks of and bring them both together in one life and then hast thou reconciled them for so shalt thou be sure to be justified both before God by St. Pauls Faith and before men by St. James works That we are justified only by the righteousness of Christ apprehended by Faith is the very Basis Foundation and State of Christian Religion whereby it is distinguished from all other Religions whatsoever Jews Turks Pagans and Papists explode an imputed righteousness yea Papists jear it calling it a putative Righteousness Let us therefore hold fast this comfortable and faithful word and transmit this doctrine safe and sound to posterity It was Luthers great fear that when he was dead it would be lost again out of the world Christ is in the midst of his Church whose righteousness is communicated to every true Believer who only comes within the Sphear of his activity The more vertuous the central Agent is in any thing the larger will his Semidiameters be and consequently his circumference The more powerful the fire is the further will it cast its heat circularly By Christ all that believe Act. 13.39 are justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses For what saith the Scripture Rom. 4.2 Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for Righteousness Therefore we conclude Rom. 3.28 that a man is justified by Faith without the deeds of the Law Vnion with Christ This Union is neither natural nor corporal nor Political nor personal but mystical and Spiritual Unitas not compaginat uni Our unity with Christ makes us one ●ith him and yet it is no less true and real than that of God the Father and God the Son For as the Holy Ghost did unite in the Virgins womb the divine and humane natures of Christ and made them one person by reason whereof Christ is of our flesh and of our bones so the Spirit unites the person of Christ his whole person God-man with our persons by reason whereof we are of his flesh and of his bones Our Union with Christ is exprest in Scripture by five Similitudes 1. By marriage Christ the Husband we the Spouse 2. By a body Christ the Head we the Members 3. By a building Christ the Foundation we the Superstructure 4. By ingraffing Christ the Vine we the Branches ingraffed into him 5. By the Similitude of feoding Christ the food we the body nourished As the Spirit of man quickens no seperate part Ezek. 37.9 neither could those dry bones live till they came together bone to his bone and the wind breathed upon them Aug. so nor Christ any that are not united to him Christ and his Members make one spiritual body Whiles Christ layes hold on us by his Spirit we lay hold on him by Faith Hence the Church is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 And the fulness of Christ Eph. 1.23 Yea hence we have the honor of making Christ perfect O happy union the ground of communion Omnis communio fundatur in unione O happy Interest the ground of influence Hence we have communication of Christs Secrets 1 Cor. 2.16 The Testimony of Jesus 1 Cor. 1.5 Consolation in all Afflictions 2 Cor. 1.5 Sanctification of all occurrances Phil. 1.21 Participation of Christs merit and Spirit and what not I am the vine ye are the branches Joh. 15.5 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 For we are Members of his body of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5.30 Sanctification Justification and Sanctification are inseperable concomitants indeed they are not to be confounded but withall they ought not to be severed distinguished they must be divided they cannot and therefore they are fitly called Twins in the womb of Free Grace Hence it is that we find those two frequently joyned together 1 Cor. 6.11 Ezek. 36.26 Mic. 7.19 One bade his Fellow at the Sun-rising look towards the West instead of the East where he might the better see the appearance of the Sun upon the tops of the Turrets even so the assurance of Election is best seen in Conversion and Sanctification 2 Pet. 1.10 Malac. 4.2 Sanctification is an universal healing of all the
flesh yet without sin to take away sin Heb. 2.17 18. Non ignara mali miseris succurrere disco In all things it behoved him to be mâde like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people who being tempted might be able to succour them that are tempted Now to participate of the nature of Mankind by propagation he was as was requisite born of a Woman an unspotted Maid whose womb was the seminary of our happiness according to the prediction Gen. 3. The seed of the woman shall break the serpents head And not to participate of Mans sin but to be Holiness to the Lord Armin. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost Quo nativitas saith one qua erat supra naturam sed pro naturâ mirabili excellentiâ naturam superans eandem virtute mysterii repararet Whereby the Birth which was above the sphere of Natures activity yet for nature surmounting Nature through the excellence of a miracle might repair the same by the unparallel'd virtue of an admired Mystery Thus the Word was made flesh by whose powerful word Flesh and all things visible and invisible in Heaven and Earth were made To him the Father of Heaven gave the order of Priesthood determining to have no other consideration or price for the ransom of transgressors but his flesh His righteous soul poured out for them should save theirs This was the reason why the Angel named him by command from Heaven JESVS At which reverend and holy Name carrying in it an intimation of our Redemption we the redeemed of the Lord in remembrance of the benefit purchased for as by him 1 Cor. 6.20 with a religious lowliness ought to bow to him the soul the body for the Lord Jesus hath bought both So that I may justifie with a forein Doctor Quòd faelix videri culpa possit quae talem meruit habere Redemptorem That sin may seem somwhat happy that stood in need of and obtained so prevalent so worthy a Redeemer To make good what hitherto hath been said of the Lords Messias I must pitch my thoughts upon two points 1. Upon the manner of ordering Christ Jesus our High-Priest 2. Upon his efficacious execution of this office He was ordered our High-Priest by covenant by oath The first was usual in the ordination of the Levitical Priests Cap. 2.5 My covenant saith the Lord by the Prophet Malachy was with Levi of life and peace This other is peculiar to the Priesthood of the Son of God after the similitude of Melchisedeck's For those Priestwere made without swearing of an oath but this by an oath by him that said unto him The Lord sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck In the covenant on Gods side with Christ Jesus our High-Priest there are two things The demand of an act to be performed and the promise of a liberal remuneration The thing demanded of him was the laying down of life for the life of the world a voluntary submission to the death of the Cross to free us from the cross of the second death The thing promised upon performance was He should see his seed Isa 53.10 he should prolong his dayes the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand He should remain a Priest time out of mind and that according to the order of Melchisedeck that is by the punctual exercise whereof he should be advanced to the Regal dignity The covenant again on our Saviours side with God consisted also in other two things answerable to the former A free promise of yieldance to the demand of his Father and the acceptation of the promised reward See his reply Heb. 10.9 Lo I come to do thy will O God Which done being the shedding of his blood for the remission of sins to the lowest step of humiliation and exact obedience God did highly exalt him unto glory to be King of righteousness and Prince of peace Mutus fit oportet qui non laudarit Herculem giving him a name which is above every name that at the name of JESVS every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth c. Such was his heroick spirit anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows that He endured the cross and despised the shame for the joy that was set before him Of this joy we with others that believe in him shall one day have an exuberant fruition For to this very end such an High-Priest became us To this Covenant of grace and peace God addeth an Oath which hath its use in this blessed Contract It tends 1. To the ratification of this Priesthood to make it sure 2. To the demonstration of the immutability and dignity of it For the first Albeit no word of God coming from his mouth can be taxt of the least inconstancy yet is he pleased to imitate men in their manner of contracting in matters of moment 1. To raise up our weak hopes to a sublime pitch of assurance in him 2. That our High-Priest trusting to a double Anchor that cannot be removed the one of Promise the other of an Oath might with an undaunted confidence sleight the reproach and undergo the pain that was to befall him For the second Gods oath exempts both this Priesthood and the second Covenant from all immutability containing in it a peremptory implicit decree for their eternity Quicquid juramento confirmat Deus id aeternum est immutabile Whatever God confirms with an oath is perpetual and unchangeable The reason why the Lord did not establish Levi's Priesthood and the first Covenant of Works with the sacred religion of a solemn oath was because he intended it an alteration in time to make the Lord Jesus a Surety of a better Testament not after the Law of a tarnal Commandement but after the power of an endless life By my self have I sworne said Abrahams God to him in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed This Seed is Christ proceeding from him after many successions of ages and generations this Blessing is the Redemption of Man-kind by that seed term'd the Son of Man in the execution of his Priestly Office which is irrecoverable A Saviour in solidum by which he is able to save them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the uttermost that come unto God by him Faelices nos quorum causà Deus jurare voluit miseros si ne juranti quidem credimus Happy are we for whose sakes God would swear Most unhappy we if when he swears we believe him not but be disobedient It makes also for the dignity and honour of this Priesthood 't is of an higher estimation than that of Levi for unto that were sinners called to this onely the most Holy the Son of God The sacrifices of that though many
short of an invention how to scape his sury and obtain his favour how to satisfy his justice and redeem our lives from hell and death Behold before the foundation of the world was laid he resolved to send his own only Son begotten by an eternal generation who should quell the power of our afflicting enemies stop the mouth of the roaring lyon overcome the world sin death the grave and hell and lay open a plain passage into the Kingdom of heaven Which eternal resolution was in the fulness of time perfectly effected for God then sent forth his Son into the world to assume our nature that we might assume his grace to suffer for our sins what we should of merit suffer to be obedient to the cursed death of the crosse that we might escape the curse of God and not be subject to the second death And albeit hereby he made himself of no reputation who thought it no robbery to be equall with God yet by this meanes he did make way to be highly exalted to get a name which is above every name and to be glorified with the glory which he had with the Father Ne Jesum quidem a●ias gloriosum nisi videris crucisixum Luther to Melanchton before the world was This he himself in a conference with some of his Disciples after his resurrection wherein doubtless he did recapitulate his several sufferings certified to the world Ought not Christ to have suffered those things and to enter into his glory Luk. 24.26 This Scripture points at Christ considered in part of his twofold state 1. His state of humiliation quoad mortem as touching his death Christ's suffering or passion 2. His state of exaltation quoad resurrectionem as touching his resurrection In his humiliation we find him ignominiously crucified and made a curse for us In his exaltation gloriously raised that he might be supereminently glorified and our selves blest in him for ever In this he shall judge as in the former he was judged My pen is now conversant about the first part Wherefore assistance O my souls Saviour and Soveraign I intreat thee that in all humility of soul I may declare what for our salvation thy Majesty didst suffer in all humility And first of my Saviours humiliation in general Of all the works of God done for and to the children of men Some are Opera potentiae works of power Some opera pietatis works of mercy Some opera justitiae works of justice all righteous works Yet if we seriously fix our thoughts upon the humiliation of our alsufficient-Redeemer we shall find it to be a work of 1. Power 2. Mercy 3. Justice All these that otherwise are disperst in his several works are compacted and meet together in this one First then it is a work of power 1. In it self 2. Towards us In it self 't is a work of power God was made man but not sinful man which none could bring to passe but God that first made man without sin The Creator of all made himself a creature which none could do but the Creator of all Whereupon it was that at the conception of the Son of God in the Virgins womb Luk. 1.35 the holy Ghost came upon her and the power of the most high did overshadow her Hence saith one after God had made man he left nothing but to make himself man A dignity to which the Angels are not call'd wherewith our nature above all is blest Tom. 10. Pag. 595. It is Austins speech In creatione mundi homo factus est ad imaginem Dei in nativitate Christi ipse factus est ad imvginem hominis when the world was created man was made in the image of God when Christ was born God was made in the image of man Both which are to be refer'd to divine Omnipotencie For that God and man might be one in Covenant Lib. 2. Institut Ood used his power to make himself and man both one in person Non communicatione gratiae fed naturae veritate non consusione substantiae sed unitate personae saith Trelcatius not by communication of grace Epiphanius but by reality of nature not by an undistinct confusion of substance but by a personal unity So that as Epiphanius speaks Christ was homo in veritate natus Isa 7.14 Deus in veritate existens true God and true man in one and the same person which is implied by the Prophet calling him Immanuel that is God with us or God in our nature Luk. 1.35 Exprest by the Angel calling him the Son of God that should be born of the Virgin Mary And manifested by the Apostle averring him to come of the Fathers as concerning the flesh Rom. 9.5 and yet to be over all God blessed for ever This might seem exceeding strange yet it proves not more strange then true God and man who stood at an infinite distance are now everlastingly linkt together in one person according to the mighty working of his power Thus Christ's humiliation in being incarnate is a work of power in it self It is likewise a work of power towards us Since Adams rebellion we were all captives unto sin and Satan untill God incarnate did vindicate our liberty We were extremely weakened our spirits fail'd us until the Lords anointed the mighty God of Jacob did infuse into our hearts the strength of his Spirit His Incarnation made way for our salvation and his taking unto him our humanity makes us by faith to partake of his Divinity Anselme moves three questions Anselm Meditat c. 8. to which he gives one solid resolution the questions are these 1. What offence could man commit which the Son of God made man could not exprate 2. Who could be so much swell'd up with that uncharitable vice of pride which so great humility could not pull down 3 What dominion could death have over us which the death of the Son of God could not destroy for us The answer 's this Certainly if the iniquity of sinful man and the grace of my unspotted Lord were wigh'd in an even ballance the East is not so much distant from the West nor the lowest hell from the highest heaven as my Redeemers goodnesse in his humility doth exceed the wickednesse of a sinner To this I adde he hath shewn greater power in this act for our redemption than the malice of all the Devils in hell could put in practice for our confusion Thus Christ's humiliation is a work of power towards us And so much the rather he being after this sort humbled was once offered to bear the sins of many Again it is a work of mercy Deus propter hominem sactus est homo ut esset redemptor qui est Creator ut de suo ridimeretur homo saith Austin Aug. Manual c. 26. God for mans sake was made man that he might be our Redeemer who is our Creator and so we have of our own wherewith to be redeemed
sic jubeo then there is Reason that thinks of the means to compass the intent of the Will which being found there is a Power which is still in action till the Will as I may so say gets its will and obtains its end whence is drawn a similitude to express the profound mystery of the Trinity The Father is compared to the Will for he is the beginning of the action the Son to Reason for to him is given the dispensation of all things and he is the Wisdom of the Father the Holy Ghost to the Faculty or Power of effecting it who is the Perfecter of every act called The Power of the most High These three saculties are in the soul of man yet one soul not three and 't is a question never satisfactorily decided since first moved Whether these essentially and really differ from the soul or no If then these three faculties of the soul be one soul and one soul these three faculties why may not the Essence of the Godhead be communitated to three Persons and these three Persons remain one onely God Thus the glimmering light of Nature hath given us some light in this matter Lombard lib. 1. dist 12. E. which as the Master of Sentences saith Etsi sensu non percipiam tamen teneo conscientià Though unperceptible to mine outward sense yet in my conscience I hold for true Rules of Divinity exceeding our capacity are to be embraced by Faith not to be discussed by Reason And thus much for the Person sent the Spirit of the Son I proceed to the Person sending which is said to be God God the Father by his Son sent forth the Spirit of his Son In which discourse as much compendiousness as may be All that we enjoy in the time of our pilgrimage here on Earth are sent us from God the Giver of every good and perfect gift What Earth cannot afford us Heaven supplies The mission or donation of the Holy Ghost comes not within the reach of any mortal or immortal creature Wherefore the Father considering we cannot have a we being in this life but our condition should be without him miserable He sent us the Holy Ghost the onely Comforter of our distressed souls the onely Supporter of our future hopes of happiness to strengthen us and fill our hearts with joys unspeakable O the wonderful mercy of Almighty God! Qui misit unige●●tum immisit spiritum promisit vnltum quid tandem tibi negaturus est B●rn de temp Nihil unquam ei negasse credendum est quem ad vitull bortatur esum Hierom. He sent his Son to save us and his Sons Spirit to comfort us God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts He denies us nothing that may further our good but sends us all things even his Spirit who deserve a denial of all things It is believe it it is his Mercy that is over all his works He makes our misery the object of his goodness our necessities the object of his bounty hence the Apostle discourseth thus God gave us his Son when we were enemies and how shall he not with him give unto us all things even to the Spirit of his Son God sent forth the Spirit of his Son It is counted a great gift that Jacob sent by the hands of his servants to paci●ie his brother Esau Gen. 32.14 15. It is counted a great gift that Joseph sent to Jacob his father Gen. 45.22 23. and that he gave to Benjamin It is counted a great gift that Pharaoh gave to Joseph giving him rule over all the land of Egypt Gen. 41.43 It was a Princely gift that Hiram King of Tyre sent to King Solomon 1 King 9.14 and that the Queen of Shtha gave him 1 King 10.10 It was a Princely and magnificent gift that King Ahasuerus sent to Mordecai by the han is of Haman it is registred Esth 6. It was a gift royal that the three Wise-men presented to our Saviour Christ Gold Myrrhe and Frankincense Mat. 2. But it is a far greater and more magnificent gift that the God of Heaven sends into the hearts of the children of men the Spirit of his Son Those are but poor gifts in respect of this for infinite is the difference betwixt them and it They are subject to mutability loss and corruption but God sends forth the immortal and eternal Spirit of his Son very God of very God into our hearts They could not sanctifie them to whom they were sent and given but this doth cleanse those souls from all pollution of sin to whom God sends him They only made them great in the eyes of men this makes men great in the eyes of God Who but a blind man cannot discern the tender affection and exceeding care of Almighty God our heavenly Father towards us who gives us all things to the utmost of his power he thinks nothing too good for us He gives us his Spirit and in giving him he gives himself God over all blessed for ever What greater gift can God give to the sons of men what greater gift can the sons of men expect of God Enough enough Lord thou art God Alsufficient we can ask no more and thou canst send no greater than the Spirit of thy Son into our hearts I will not part from this point till I clear one doubt In that God sends the Spirit of his Son some infer that God and the Holy Spirit are unequal the Sender must ever be greater than the Messenger the Giver than the Gift But by their leaves 1. This is a Principle under●●able That there is no inequality in the Deity 2. Common experience in Civil affairs is able to demonstrate this That equals may send forth equals it is usual 3. S. Cyril Cyrils rule is most forcibly true That Missio obedientia non tollunt aqualitatem Mission and submission nullifie not equality The Father sent his onely begotten Son into the world in the form of a servant and was obedient unto death even the cursed death of the Cross Yet equal to the Father He thought it no robbery Phil. 2. So the Holy Ghost in equality is not a jot diminished nor his authority any thing abated though sent of the Father The Father is not greater than the Son nor the Holy Ghost less than either because all three are one and the same God Infinite in Essence and Lord of all and in Unity there is no Inequality Here I put a period to my discourse of this point and proceed to the next to wit to the Mission or sending of the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Son God sent forth the Spirit of his Son The sending of the Spirit is either in a visible or invisible manner Visibly he is said to be sent when there are significant signs of his presence Not that the Spirit in its own nature is visible to the eyes of man When he confers his saving graces by the use of external Symbols working
exceeded the capacity of Nico● Cum primum nascimur in omni continuo pravitate versamur Tully though a Master in Israel to become like him did not he mould out hearts anew and fill them with the invaluable riches of his mercy and the treasures of his graces we had been of all creatures the most miserable Sinful was our conception sinful was our birth and striful is all our life Nature makes us sons of wrath being deprived of the life of grace as soone as we are sons of nature Damnatus homo antequam natus Aug. there is none that doth good no not one All are sold under sin whence the Apostile upon his own experience averreth that in him that is in his flesh or natural estate dwelleth no good thing Rom. 7. We are born dead as soone as we come into the world alive spiritually dead naturally alive Now in whom no good thing dwelleth by nature they are by nature void of grace and who by nature are void of grace do not by nature participate of spiritual life whereof whosoever is not partaker is by nature spiritually dead and who by nature are spiritually dead are destitute of the Spirit of grace who is the sole Author of life and finisher of our salvation All saving graces and heavenly benedictions flow from him in whom the fulnesse of all graces dwells and all return to him again as rivers come from the sea and to the sea return U●lesse therefore God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts to sanctifie 〈◊〉 to cleanse us to put new spirit and life into us which is a work of the highest power to which nature can never actain we shall come short of performing the least act that may be any wayes advantageous for our falvation A dead man●s not in action hath no living motion neither is there in his power any possibility of regaining life a so is every one spiritually whose heart is not quickened and moved by the holy Ghost to whom it is alone possible to raise from the death of sinne whose property it is to infuse grace and make the hearts and souls of men beautified with the richest furniture and most precious 〈◊〉 of divine 〈…〉 Tomles for himself to dwell in And thus the passage is clear and open for another observation grounded on these words which is this That the heart of the child of God is the seat or dwelling place of the holy Ghost Of all things in man God desireth the heart of man My son give me thine heart for as naturally evil actions proceed from it so must all good being first set awork by the first mover unto all good the good Spirit of God It is in man by nature according to the dictates of natural Philosophy Primum vivens the first in man that lives and divine Philosophy informs us that it is so in grace too For the convernon of the whole man depends upon the conversion of the heart to God there new life is begun Nature gives it a vital faculty distributing to all parts the vital spirits whereby they are embled to work and so doth grace for in what good soever any part of the body is imployed the power of effecting it is derived from the heart which as it is called Principium vitae in the body of man so it is made by the grace of God the original of a holy life and the first subject of grace without which all our best services are but glittering sins for with the heart we beleeve and with the heart we work out our salvation The Chymicks compare the heart to the Sun call'd by them Cor mundi the Sun is in the midst of the great world this in the midst of the little world man The Sun is the sountain of heat in this wherewith all sublunary creatures are cherished and quickened so from the heart to apply things otherwise than they do wholly taken up with the sanctifying Spirit doth proceed such a heat and fervent zeal as that every part is made nimble in the execution of what God commands us It makes the feet swift in running to the house of prayer the hands pliable to minister to the necessities of the poor the tongue voluble in uttering the praises of Almighty God ● 1. 〈◊〉 the eares ready to hear with joy the Gospel of peace preached the eyes to be busied in looking up to heaven from whence cometh our salvation the whole man to be wholly taken up in heavenly contemplations of God and his works and holy exercises of devotion Hence the heart may challenge a principality over all the members of the body all are at its service and it exerciseth dominion over them all Arist in lib. de gederatione tanquam rex in regno as King in his Kingdom saith the Philosopher and it is ruled by the Spirit say Divines Naturalists raise a large discourse and ample dispute upon this Argument and as yet the controversie lies undetermined but this one principle of Divinity alotting the heart to the holy Ghost for his chief mansion in man doth end the controversie for in what part of man the holy Ghost doth principally reside and on what part of man mans conversion doth principally depend must of necessity be the principal part of man But to return more particularly to the rule hitherto amplified that the heart of man is the seat of the Spirit my discourse shall be limited 1. To the proof here of by Scripture 2. To a declaration of those circumstances whereby the being of the Spirit in our hearts may be discovered and by necessary consequence without all peradventure coucluded It is the general voice of the Scripture which is without exception that the Spirit dwelleth in the elect Rom. 8.9 Ye are not in the flesh but i● the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you And in ver 11. it is thus written That if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit which dwelleth in you The Apostle in 1 Cor. 3.16 propounds this question the ignorance whereof is reputed grosse absurdity Know ye not that ye a●d the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you It is part of Pauls divine prayer for the Ephesians in Ephes 3.17 that Christ may dwell in their hearts by saith that is that Christ may possesse their hearts and the whole man by his Spirit working saving faith in them This dwelling is an admirable good expression of the being of the Spirit in us which is not in regard of substance which the heaven of heavens cannot contain being infinite much lesse can the body or soul of man bounded within strait limits comprize but in regard of a special operation out of the reach of a created power It carries with it an intimation of the holy Ghost abiding