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A69521 The orthodox foundation of religion long since collected by that iudicious and elegant man, Mr. Henry Ainsworth, for the benefit of his private company, and now divulged for the publike good of all that desire to know that Cornerstone, Christ Jesus crucified / by S.W. Ainsworth, Henry, 1571-1622?; S. W. (Samuel White) 1641 (1641) Wing A811; ESTC R8781 48,874 90

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is the glory of God in our salvation Our salvation shall be the full knowledge light and fruition of God for ever in Heaven it is called eternall life The way to salvation or life eternall is 1. by the knowledge and faith of God 2. By the service of him Jo. 17.3 1. Chron. 28.9 Of GOD This word GOD is used sometimes properly sometimes improperly properly it is a title given to the Creator of all things so Gen. 1.1 Improperly it is a title given to principall creatures as Angels Psal. 8.5 Heb. 2.7 and Princes and Magistrates of the world are called Gods Psal. 82.6 Jo. 10.34 35. But here we treat of God properly so called Of God there are foure things to be considered 1 That there is a God 2 What God is 3 That there is but one God 4 That there be 3. distinct persons That there is a God is proved besides the testimony of Scripture as by the workes of creation especially mans soule Zach. 12.1 by workes of providence especially judgements on the wicked Psal. 9.16 and 58.10 11. by deliverance of the Saints Exod. 14.15 and by the terrours of conscience Esay 32.14 God cannot be knowne by face of us in this life that is to say perfectly knowne in this barbarous nature Exod. 23.20 Not onely our bodily eyes but also the eyes of our mind or understanding and reason are uncapable in this life of God and cannot comprehend him Job 11.7 Neither can any name or names expresse unto us the infinite and incomprehensible being of God But God of his goodnesse doth make himselfe knowne unto us in this life in part darkly and imperfectly as in 1 Cor. 13.12 and Exod. 33.23 God is a Spirit Job 4.23 the first and the last infinite filling heaven and earth Jer. 23.24 most simple without commixture or composition eternall without beginning or end 1 Tim. 1.17 Infinite without comprehension of place or strength 1 King 8.27 Constant without shadow of change Jam. 1.17 absolute in power holinesse and glory Gen. 17.1 Goodnesse even goodnesse it selfe In that God is a spirit wee ought not to thinke the God-head is like to gold or silver or stone graven by art or any invention of man In that hee is the first hee dependeth upon no other neither may any thing be imagined before him but whatsoever is hath its being from him Rom. 22.36 Act. 17.28 In that God is infinite he is not to be thought as limitable or bounded within any place or restrained to any time or comprehensible of any or of all the Creatures We may learne to know God both by his Workes Word and Spirit Rom. 1.20 Psal. 119.104 1 Cor. 2.10 11 12. Esay 59.21 God is knowne three manner of wayes by his workes 1 By the excellencie of the creatures which must needs be much more in the Creator Psal. 94.9 10. 2 By imperfections and want in the creatures which are not in God at all Psal. 102.25 26 27. 3 By causing and working what is good in all things Esay 44.24 Jam. 1.17 Phil. 2.13 The Word of God and Holy Scripture teacheth us to know God 1 By names and titles given unto him 2 By his Essence 3 By his Properties 4 By his effects Object Gods Will and his Essence be one then God willeth all things that he doth so God is all things that he doth Answ. When wee say God willeth many things or knoweth all things we speake not of Gods Essence simply or absolutely but all things are subject to Gods knowledge which knowledge hee is and some things are subject to Gods will that is God is hee to whose knowledge which is his being all things are subject The names and titles given unto God do concerne some his essence and eternall being as Jehovah Jah Ehieh I am hee that is was and is to come which shew that God hath his essence being and existence of himselfe and not of from by or thorow any other Exod. 3.14 that hee giveth essence or existence to all creatures Act. 17.28 Amos 5.8 that hee giveth beeing to his promises and fulfilleth them Exod. 6.3 4. and 26.2 Esay 42.8 Rom. 4.14 that hee is eternall without beginning and end Some titles set forth Gods Power and Almightinesse as all-strong or Almighty Aloah most mighty Gelbor puissant Mouzzim almighty Shaddaie sufficient Adonai Lord Stay or Sustainer Some names containe the mystery of the Trinity as Alohim Adonai which are in the forme plurall yet joyned with other words singular The essence of God is taught us in the Scripture either absolutely or diversly in respect of the three persons Gods Essence is absolutely to be considered thus set forth that the Godhead or Essence of God is one undivided Deut. 6.4 That the Godhead or most Divine Essence is most perfect absolute and sufficient in it selfe Esay 40.28 Rom. 11.34 35. Gen. 17.1 That the Godhead is a meare act substantially and therefore cannot suffer any thing nor be resisted by any neither hath or ever had or ever possibly can have to be otherwise than hee is Psalm 102.27 Jam. 1.17 The Godhead considered diversly for the maner of being is three Persons in one Essence the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost 1 Joh. 5.7 The Father is the first person of the Trinity having foundation in none of personall substance The Sonne is the second person in the Trinity having foundation of personall substance of whom hee is eternally begotten Joh. 5.26 The Holy Ghost is the third person in the Trinity having foundation from the Father and the Sonne from both which hee especially proceedeth Joh. 14.26 c. In the order and manner of the creatures the originall of the actions is ascribed to the Father Joh. 5.17.19 The nature and manner of working to the Sonne Joh. 1.3 Heb. 12. The efficacie and power to the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 11 12. God hath the most excellent understanding that is the Essence of God for all in God is Essentiall therefore this is infinite and eternall as the Godhead is therefore the things which it understandeth must also be eternall Therefore it must be most perfect as the understanding is most perfect But nothing is more perfect than God therefore nothing but God can be the eternall act of Gods understanding Therefore Gods understanding hath reflection eternally to it selfe as when a mans mind thinketh upon it selfe The understanding hath in it an image of the thing understood therefore God eternally understanding himselfe conceived a most perfect image of himselfe This most perfect bringing forth of the Image in the Godhead is rightly called a conception or generation for it is the bringing forth of a thing most like to God and the conception or bringing forth of a thing most like it selfe is generation the more perfect the nature of the begetter is the more neare and conjoyned is the thing begotten and Gods life being
tempter of the man as was in originall sinne There is an impression from the mother to the children in her wombe of which impression this sinne buddeth as tinder taketh fire which is not fire it selfe this impression children draw as they do naturall diseases as stone gout not the actuall griefes but impressions which are the beginnings of them Though the soule be not in the seed yet is there in it a dispositive vertue of the body for the receiving of the soule which when it is put into the body it conformed in his manners thereunto hence it is that one angry man begetteth another one harty man another for though the feet which is the subject of the gout be not in the head nor the soule which is the subject of anger be not in the seed a formative vertue of the naturall members and a dispositive vertue unto the soule The soule is at one instant both created and united unto the body and deprived of the grace of the spirit which Adam had for all and lost for all as actuall sinne is done by the persons sinning so originall sinne is the sinne of nature done by the will of the beginning of humane nature for as one man hath many members so one mankind hath many persons and as one actuall sinne done by the hand and not the reason of the guilt from the will of the hand but from the whole heart from which as from a fountaine the motions of sinne are derived unto the members so from the will of Adam which was the beginning of mankind the whole inordination of nature hath the reason of guilt and as actuall sinne which is the sinne of the person is drawne unto all the members by some personall act so originall is drawne unto all men by naturall act which is generation and as humane nature is drawne by gnneration so the defect of humane nature is drawne also yet this rather of Gods ordination than of mans generation 1 Cor. 15.22 Originall sinne remaineth in the baptized and in the regenerate and in their posterity Rom. 7.22 and man begetteth children not by the spirit but by the flesh and therefore hee draweth not the spirit but the flesh Joh. 1.13 Ps. 51.7 yet hath not Originall sinne so great degree and efficacie in the regenerate as in the wicked The parts of this native sinne are foure first in respect of the mind want of understanding a ready inclination to doubt of God and his will Secondly in respect of the will a ready inclination to take hold on and to performe evill Thirdly in respect of the affections a prone inclination to too much or to too little as inordinate anger love and the like Fourthly in respect of the appetite a pronenesse to immoderatenesse as meat drinke venery c. Actuall sinne is that which floweth from the originall and that which is so properly called is the difference from Gods Lawes unrighteousnesse or disorder of the action from the Law and Will of God The unrighteousnesse of actions must be discerned from the actions and motions themselves as defects from effects as a man goeth halting his halting as it is a moving of the body or naturall is good as it is a lame imperfect or wrong moving it is evill against nature Actuall sinnes are all actions inward and outward contrary to Gods law in the will thoughts purposes demises desires and in the outward members all our actions aberring from Gods law Sinne leaving a spot or staine in the soule as the Leopards spo● in the skin Jer. 13.23 Sinne distinguished by the causes are either ignorance as Pauls persecuting the Church or of infirmity as Peter through feare and trouble of mind denyed Christ and 3. of malice as Judas betrayed Christ 4. of negligence when a man is not wary of Sathans subtilties Against ignorance is opposed the revelation of Gods will to man against infirmity the strengthning of the spirit to withstand the assaults of the flesh the world and the Devill against malice is the changing of the stony heart into flesh against negligence is true and holy feare in the hearts of the Saints Actions are twofold 1 Inward 2 Outward Inward of the mind and appetite Actuall sinne of the minde is an unrighteousnesse of mans thoughts as doubtings of God false opinions evill imaginations Jer. 10.24 Psal. 14.2 3. Actuall sinne of the appetite is the inordinatenesse of the motions of it called concupiscence Jam. 1.14 Concupiscence remaineth in the regenerate Rom. 7.1 The first motions of concupiscence or lust are sinne though there be not a full assent of the will Outward sinnes are the unlawfulnesse of and unorderlinesse in outward actions as in false worshipping of God swearing killing stealing lying whoring and the like Sinne is pardonable or unpardonable sinne unpardonable is the sinne against the Holy Ghost other sins are pardonable not of their owne nature properly but of Gods mercy against whom they are done The sin against the Holy Ghost is the denying of the faith and truth which was once acknowledged and this done of meere presumption and contemned unto the end without repentance Mat. 12.24 Heb. 6. 1 Joh. 5. This sinne is onely in the reprobates Againe sinne either raigneth or raigneth not raigning sinne is that which is against manifest conscience that the sinner doth please himselfe with it or at least doth not repent for it Ro. 6.12 He that committeth sinne is of the devill that is with will and delight falleth into it and continueth in it Not raigning sinne is for which the sinner is sorry and repenteth Actuall sinne imperfectly so called is sinne of omission not doing in respect of our duty to God men our selves Mat. 25. I was an hungry c. Sinne against negative Commandements as not to preserve life chastity good name when a man can or against an affirmative precept as when one curseth his parents are sinnes of omission The punishment of sinne comes now to be handled touching the Angels that sinned whom God spared not but cast them downe into hell and delivered into chaines of darknesse to be kept unto damnation 2 Pet. 2.4 Jud. 6. for overthrowing of mankind Gods wrath was heavy against Satan and his kingdome was threatned to be destroyed and his head crushed Gen. 3. Touching the serpent Satans instrument there was a curse above all other beasts creeping on his belly eating of dust and enmity betweene mankind and him Touching the punishment of Adam and his wife 1 there was a perceiving with shame of their nakednesse 2 Sorrow and paine in diseases and in labour 3 Griefe of mind and pricke of conscience Gen. 3. Adams punishment in speciall labour and sweat The womans punishment in speciall sorrow of child-bearing Their outward punishment casting out of Paradise The punishment layd on all mankind was in respect of the mind and of the body Punishments in respect of the mind are
Absolution from sinne is not sufficient to salvation unlesse there be also a restoring or putting on of good called Sanctificat●on Heb. 12.14 As Election is the peculiar worke of the Father Eph. 1.3 4. Redemption of the Sonne 1 Joh. 2.1 2. so Sanctification is the proper worke of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.11 Christ by his obedience and death hath merited for us the gift of sanctification of the Spirit 1 Cor. 1.30 This he hath merited with God who for his Sonnes sake giveth us the Spirit Gal. 4.6 Our Sanctification hath two parts 1 the putting off the old which is corrupt through the deceiveable lust 2 the putting on the new man which is after God created in righteousnesse and true holinesse The putting off the old man is the subduing breaking and abolishing of the sinfull disposition and inclination that is in our nature 1 Pet. 4.5 and of it there be two parts 1 Death 2 Buriall of the old man Death or mortification is an actuall effect of the application of Christs death by the holy Ghost to our nature whereby our corruption or body of sin receiveth a deadly wound is feebled and dyeth daily Buriall is the going forward of death and is an effect of the application of Christs buriall by the Spirit whereby the old man our body of sinne is more and more corrupted and as it were rotted in the grave Rom. 6.4 Putting on the new man is when wee take againe Godf habits and disposition to vertue and it is called the rising or the quickning of the new man which is an effect of the application by the Spirit of Christs resurrection whereby inherent holinesse is begunne and by degrees continually increased Rom. 6.4 Thus Christs death buriall and resurrection is to us 1 A gift of justification Rom. 5.15.18 2 A power to mortifie and quicken us Eph. 1.19 20. and 2.1 5 6. And an example or type to follow in ●●r course of life 1 Pet. 2.21 The 〈…〉 The justified ● understanding 〈◊〉 will 3 The 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 is 〈…〉 By teaching and 〈…〉 necessary knowledge 〈…〉 Gods favour to the 〈…〉 4.17 Rom 5.5 3 By confirming us in the 〈◊〉 of persevera●ce and eternall life 2 Cor. 1.22 The will is 〈…〉 by making 〈◊〉 and ready Right when the will is inclined and carried in a straight course to that which is good rightly knowne 〈◊〉 when there 〈…〉 and faculty to follow and to the good ●●rehended and hee 〈…〉 〈…〉 when our desires of meats drinks and other things that wee lust after are moderated according to Gods Law and reason Rom. 13 1● And when our affections of joy sorrow love hatred 〈…〉 to Gods Law 〈…〉 and too 〈◊〉 and keepe the holy mea●●e Psal. ●●0 Psal. 119. This sanctification is 1 begun 2 perfected 〈…〉 in this life Alwaies in this life there is a mixture of the old 〈◊〉 with the new an 〈…〉 to good by 〈…〉 are contrary 〈…〉 The 〈…〉 Eph. 6.13 14. The conflict is the resisting of sinfull temptations arising in us or suggested any way to us and the victory is when wee so resist as sinne ruleth not in us Rom. 6.14 The infirmities and defects of our sanctification are forgiven us in Christ Sanctification hath many degrees sometime more sometime lesse Rev. 2 3. The children of God have some speciall sinne or sinnes whereunto they are most prone which they must have most speciall care to mortifie Any one sinne reigning in a man argueth him to be wicked and unsanctified Ezek. 18.10 11. The effect of regeneration or sanctification is good workes namely acts and operations proceeding from a regenerate will understanding and affections In good workes are to be considered 1 The rule 2 The partition of them The rule of good workes is Gods Law comprehended in the ten Commandements which God gave by voyce and by writing on 2. Tables of stone at mount Sinay The 1 Table containeth foure Commandements informing us of our duties and good workes towards God The first commandement chargeth us not to be Atheists without God Psal. 14.1 Secondly not to have false gods with the true Exod. 20.23 1 Cor. 10.20 Thirdly not to have false gods without the true 2 King 17.25 Fourthly not to have the true God neare in thy mouth and farre from thy heart Esay 29.13 〈◊〉 1.16 but requireth us to have Jehovah the true God and him onely and sincerely to be our God Deut. 4.35 The second Commandement forbideth us to make in Gods worship any shape image representation or ordinance whereby to worship God or to bow downe or to submit to any such made by any other Act. 17.29 Mat. 15.9 Col. 2.23 and commandeth us to worship the true God truly according to his owne prescription The third Commandement forbiddeth all profanation and abuse of Gods Name Word Ordinances and requireth a reverent and holy use and estimation of those meanes and instruments whereby God hath made knowne himselfe unto us and requireth to be worshipped of us Deut. 19.12 23.21 and 18.20 Lev. 19.12 24.11 The fourth Commandement requireth the observation of the due time of Gods publique worship and of all holy means whereby we may grow in grace knowledge and sanctification Act. 15.21 16.13 17.2 3. The second Table containeth sixe Commandements all teaching love and duty to our neighbour The first requireth speciall duties to our parents governours and all superiours that we honour them The second concerneth our neighbours life and good Thou shalt not kill The third concerneth his chastity as our owne Thou shalt not commit adultery The fourth concerneth our neighbours goods that wee steale not The fifth concerneth his good name that we beare not false witnesse but speake the truth The sixth forbiddeth all lust or desire to anything that is our neighbours and requireth us to be contented with our owne Thou shalt not covet The summe of these Commandements is to call men from all naturall corruption or vice unto the true God having him in an unfained love above all and our neighbour as ourselves Touching the Law of God these rules are to be considered As the Law was given by God who is most perfect so in the keeping of it is required absolute perfection Psal. 19. Jam. 2.10 Gen. 6.4 5. This perfection is inward and outward Inward in the Image of God expressed in the understanding will and appetite of man Outward in the intire effect of this image shewed in operation Rom. 7.14 Esay 2.10 Unregenerate men are utterly unable to keepe the Law the regenerate are able to keepe it in part but but not fully in this life Gen. 8.22 Psal. 14. Eph. 2.1 Rom. 7.22 23. 1 Joh. 1.8 10. Seeing the Law cannot be by us perfectly fulfilled wee may not seeke for justification by the workes of the same Gal. 2.16 3.10 13. Psal. 3 9. The common