Isa 6.2 How much lesse then could any man intercede whereas there is not one just Person Rom. 3.10 The evill that was to be taken away was sin and the consequents of sin the wrath of God the power of Satan both temporal and eternal death Now I pray by whose suffering could that infinite Majesty be satisfied which was offended unlesse by his suffering who was also Infinite By whose Intercession could the wrath of God be appeased but by his onely who is that best beloved Sonne of God By whose strength could Satan with the whole power of darknesse be overcome except by his who in power exceeds all the Devils who finally could overcome death except he who had the power over death Heb. 2.15 But the good things that were to be restored were perfect righteousness adoption into sons the Image of God the gifts of the Holy Ghost life eternal and such like but now who could bestow that righteousness on us except he who is justice it self Who is so fit to make us the sons of God as he who is by nature the Son of God Who was so fit to restore in us the Image of God as he who is himself the image of the invisible God Who can bestow on us the holy Spirit so assuredly as he from whom the Spirit proceedeth Who at last can give us life eternal but he who is life it self Joh. 1.4 XII That he might be man the justice of God required which as it leaves not sin unpunished so it punisheth not sin but in that nature which sinned The first branch of this Rule is plain both by the justice and by the truth of God By his justice because God by this doth not onely resist but also punish sin Psal 5.5 6 7. For thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickedness nor shall evil dwell with thee the foolish shall not stand in thy sight thou hatest all workers of iniquity thou shalt destroy them that speak lies the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitfull man Now by the truth of God because the threatning which was given before the fall could not be in vain therefore Socinus is idle and foolish who that he might overthrow the merit of Christ feigns such a justice of God which doth not necessarily inflict eternal death or require satisfaction and which in this respect can be content to lose its own right but if sins are to be punished they were surely to be punished in our nature for to man the Law was given and to man death was threatened therefore it lies upon man to suffer the punishment XIII It was requisite that God and man should be united in one Person that he might be a Mediator between God and us He was therefore the medium between God and man that is he was at the same time God and man that he might perform those things which were to be effected towards God and man Heb. 5.1 These works of God and man do require both natures in the same person of which in the next Chapter more at large The parts of Christs Incarnation are two to wit the Conception and the Nativity In the Conception three things for the better understanding are considerable the forming the assuming and the personal union of the humane nature The forming of the humane nature of Christ is that whereby it was produced without the help of man of the Virgins blood by the operation of the Holy Ghost The RULES I. The Holy Ghost is not the material but the efficient cause of Christs conception For he was conceived not of his substance but by his power not by generation but by his commanding force and benediction Aug. II. The next or proximate matter was the blood of the blessed Virgin III. the form of Christs conception consisteth in the preparing and sanctifying of the Virgins blood by the vertue of the Holy Ghost in the forming of the body whereby together at the same instant it was made perfect and not successively as the bodies of other men are Lastly in the inspiring of the reasonable soul Whereas fourty dayes are appointed in ordinary generation for the time of forming the embryo the body of Christ was perfected in a moment otherwise not Christ the man but an embryo had been conceived IV. The end of Christs miraculous conception was that he might be free from Original sin for this sticks close to all that are of and by Adam that is to all who are naturally descended from him but it was needfull that Christ should be born without sin that we might have a holy High Priest Heb. 7.17 The assumption of the humane nature is whereby Christ assumed truly a humane soul and body with all their affections proprieties and infirmities yet without sin The RULES I. Christ assumed not man but the humanity not the person but the nature For otherways he had not been God-man and one person but two persons and so there had been two Christs The Scripture stiles him Emanuel because the same who is with us that is to say who is man is also God Isa 7.14 the same eternall Word is said to be made flesh Joh. 1.1 and the same is called both Davids Son and his Lord Mat. 22.42 II. And not onely did he assume a true humane body consisting of three dimensions and a true soul but also the essential Properties III. Yea and he took our infirmities too but not those damnable ones but such as were faultlesse and miserable These infirmities are either of the body or of the soule Again the infirmities of the body are from external causes as the calamities and torments inflicted by enemies Or they have their being from some internal cause and they follow wholly our nature since it fell front its primitive happinesse as to be cold to be hot to thirst to hunger to be in pain to grow weary and such like But the infirmities of the soule are sadnesse feare ignorance c. IV. So likewise he took upon him our affections but free from all disorder or inclination to evil The Personal Union is whereby the Person of the Son of God did communicate his Hypostasis or Personality to the humane nature and he so knit it to himself and with his divine nature that the propriety of both natures being entire he is in one Person God and man The RULES I. Christs humane nature hath no other or particular Hypostasis or subsistence then that of the Word that is of the Son of God In this point Christ differs from all other men because every man hath a peculiar Hypostasis or manner of subsisting by which he differs from other Persons besides his Essence consisting of body and soul but Christs humane nature wanting a proper subsistence is assumed into the fellowship of the Hypostasis of the divine nature neither doe we inferre from hence that the humane nature in Christ in this point is more inferiour then in other men for it is so much the
more excellent in Christ by how much the subsistence of the Son of God exceeds other creatures II. For the better conceiving of this mystery it is expedient that we shew how the humane nature was and was not united to the Son of God III. It was not united coessentially as the Persons in the God-head are united not essentially onely and virtually as the essence of Christ is present to all not by way of assistance or by the presence of grace onely not naturally as the matter and form are united not by way of conveniency as one friend to another not mystically onely as Christ dwels in the faithfull not Sacramentally as he is in the holy Supper but Hypostatically and personally that is to say that we may more fully explain our selves for avoiding the Eutychian and Nestorian Heresie 1 Immutably without changing of the divine Person 2. Indivulsably without pulling asunder the natures with Nestorius 3. Inconfusedly without confounding the natures with Eutyches 4. Inseparably IV. There are three effects of the Personal Vnion the communication of property the excellency of the humane nature and the cooperation of both natures in these common works of God and man V. The communication of Properties is a manner of speaking whereby that which belongs to either nature is predicated of the Person of Christ which way soever it is called This is either directly done or indirectly directly when that which belongs to the divine nature is predicated of the Person so nominated from the divine nature even so are things denominated from the humane nature which belong to the humane nature John 1.1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God c. Luk. 18.32 The Son of man shall be delivered to the Gentiles he shall be mocked and spitefully entreated and spit upon Indirectly when that which belongs to the Divinity is enunciated or said of Christ as man and what appertains to the humanity is spoken of Christ as God as Joh. 3.13 No man hath ascended to heaven but he that descended to wit the Son of man which is in heaven Act. 20.28 God hath purchased the Church with his own blood VI. This communication is verbal or real verbal in respect of the manner of speaking but real in respect of the foundation to wit of the personal union For as both natures truly subsist in the Person of the Son of God so the properties of both natures are common to him VII But here we must distinguish the concrete words from the abstract for those belong to the Person but these to either Nature Therefore I may truly say God is man and man is God but not likewise the Deity is the humanity or the humanity the Deity for even in natural things there is this difference many things are opposite in the abstract which in the concrete are but diverse or subordinate for we say rightly that is corporeal which is animate and something corporeal is animate but we cannot say that the soule is the body or that the body is the soule so all Christ is every where but not all of Christ or both natures VIII The excellency of Christs humane nature consisteth partly in those gifts which proceed from the grace of union and partly in the honour of adoration IX Among his gifts we are chiefly to consider his Knowledge and Power X. Although that eternal knowledge which is an essential property of the Divine nature is not transfused into the Humane nature yet in this humane nature there is a threefold knowledge to wit a donative an infused and an experimental XI The donative called also the Knowledge of the blessed is that whereby the humane nature being most neerly united to the Divine essence seeth the same though it cannot comprehend it For a finite thing cannot comprehend an infinite it seeth God all but not altogether or totally XII The infused knowledge is that whereby Christ being anointed by the Holy Ghost knoweth all heavenly things which otherwise cannot be seen but by the light of grace XIII The experimental knowledge is that by which Christ knows the things that are intelligible by the light of nature conceiving the effects out of their causes and the causes out of their effects c. XIV Albeit both in his donative and infused knowledge he excelleth Angels and men yet this differs from his eternal omnisciencie XV. Ignorance is opposite to his experimental knowledge which * A. R. It is said here that Ignorance is attributed to Christ This cannot be meant properly for it was not fit there should be ignorance in him who came to cure our ignorance And if ignorance be the want of that knowledge which ought to be in us 't must needs be sin in whomsoever it is There is a difference between these two phrases Not to know and to be ignorant for ignorance is the privation of knowledge which is a habit and that was not in him in whom were hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge And so Peter Joh. 21. and all the Disciples Joh. 16. confesse that Christ knew all things But not to know signifieth the suspension of the act of knowledge only which can be no privation in him that hath the habit To wink is not to be blind for he that winks hath the habit of sight which a blind man wants Again to know in Scripture is sometime to make known as Gen. 22. Now I know that thou fearest me that is I have made it known So not to know is not to make known by the rule of contraries So Christ knew not the last day that is he made it not known or he did not know that day to reveal it So when Christ is said to increase in knowledge is not meant that he was ignorant but that he attained to the knowledge which he had before after another manner then he did before that is experimentally now habitually before ignorance is attributed to Christ for in this kind of knowledg he is said to increase Luk. 2.52 XVI Such is the power of his humane nature that in this also it is superior to men and Angels for it received an instrumental power to work miracles but the principal or omnipotent power was reserved for the Word which maketh use of the humane nature as of an instrument XVII The adoration of the Humane nature is an honour that follows upon the Personal union yet this adoration is not of the flesh as flesh nor of the creature but of God in the created flesh XVIII The thing that followes upon the Hypostatical union is the meeting of both Natures in those works which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of God-man and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Perfections in which these four things are considerable 1. The worker Christ himself 2. The principles by which he works to wit the two Natures 3. The force of energie or the twofold action according to the twofold
for us The latter branch confounds his holiness or innocency with his obedience or actual justice which differ as much as the habite and privation Innocency indeed is necessarily required in Christs Sacrifice but his actual obedience is not onely required in Christ as a Priest but it is also a part of his satisfaction and merit for if Adams actual disobedience was the meritorious cause of damnation why should not the actual obedience of the second Adam be the meritorious cause of salvation except we will say that the first Adam was more powerful to damn us then the second was to save us II. The Fathers command which Christ obeyed was special and general Special in respect of the end that he should obey not for himself but for us But general in respect of the object for he was subject to the same Law which was prescribed to us and in all things which the Law enjoyned us to They who only make Christs passive obedience meritorious pretend that it was performed so onely by a special command from the Father that he should die for us But this were not a special command only but a partial For Christs obedience doth as far extend it self as the Law doth Whereas then the Law obligeth us both to the punishment and to obedience he did satisfie both these requisites III. Life eternal is considered either in it self as it is a full participation of celestial joy or in opposition to damnation as it is a freedom from damnation in the former sense the perfect Justice of Christ is the cause of eternal life but in the latter the suffering of the punishment is the cause of life eternal It is one thing to describe Life eternal privatively and another thing positively To speak properly there is no other cause of eternal Life but perfect Justice according to the Law Do this and live Yet Christs death is called the cause of eternal Life so far as it is a delivery from all evil neither is freedom from damnation and heavenly joys parts of life but onely different relations Hence it is apparent in what sense Christ promiseth that he will give his flesh for the life of the world Joh. 6.51 Two things here are objected 1. If Christs active obedience is the cause of eternal Life then he suffered in vain 2. If Christ obeyed for us then we need not yield obedience But in the first Argument there is no consequence for there is one end which is common to both parts of satisfaction to wit our salvation another proper to each one for the end of his suffering was our delivery from evil but the end of Justice is the procuring of right to eternal life The latter Argument against the merit of active obedience is such a one as Socinus frames against the merit of passive obedience If quoth he Christ died in our stead then we need not die But there is no consequence in either there is one death of Christ another of the godly that was joyned with a curse this with a blessing Christ did undergo that as the wages of our sins but we undergo this as a passage from this life to a heavenly so there is one obedience of Christ another of man that was perfect Justice which he performed in our stead to purchase life for us but this is imperfect and is performed to shew our gratitude for our redemption IV. The active Justice of Christ in the Old Testament was shadowed out by the glorious robes of the High-Priest as a type They who deny the merit of active obedience ask By what type it was shadowed out For if say they it is a part of the Priests office in what thing did the High-Priest type it out But to what purpose was all that glorious attiring of the High-Priest in which he appeared before God if it was not to shadow out Christs righteousness Hence we read that not only were the filthy garments of Jehosuah taken off from him in signe of our sins removed from us but that new garments were put upon him and a mitre or crown set upon his head Zach. 3.4 5. So much of Christs Satisfaction His Intercession in the state of Humiliation was whereby he offered Supplications and Prayers not without tears and groans to his Father for us The Evangelical storie tels us of whole nights that Christ spent in prayer but he performed this office chiefly in the time of his Passion Joh 17. Heb. 7.5 Who in the days of his flesh offered with strong cries and tears supplications and prayers to him who was able to deliver him from death The RULES I. They annihilate Christs Incarnation who seek other Mediators of Intercession as they call them besides him The Pontificians distinguish between the Mediator of Redemption and mediators of Intercession and this latter office they ascribe to the departed Saints but it is no lesse sacriledge to ascribe his Intercession to the secondary Intercessors then to impart his Sacrifice to subordinate Priests and whereas they feigne that the Saints profit us not by their Intercession onely but by their merits also their distinction fals to the ground seeing they divide the glory also of Redemption between Christ and the Saints while they seâ—gn that by their merits as it were by an auxiliary aid our sins are purged and the defect of Christs passion supplied Hitherto of his Priestly office His Regal office he administred in the state of his Humiliation in gathering together a Church by his Word and Spirit so that in it there appeared no signe of Regal Majestie The RULE I. In vain do the Jews dream of the Messiah's earthly Kingdom Isa 42.2 He shall not cry nor lift up nor cause his voice to be heard in the streets Isa 53.2 3. But he shall grow up as a branch and as a root out of a dry ground he hath neither form nor beauty when we shall see him there shall be no form that we should desire him he is despised and rejected of men he is a man full of sorrows and hath experience of infirmities we hid as it were our faces from him he was despised and we esteemed him not Zach. 9.9 Behold thy King cometh unto thee he is just and saved himself poor and riding upon an asse CHAP. XIX Of Christs Exaltation THus of the state of his Humiliation the state of his Exaltation is that wherein Christ being raised from the dead was exalted to Heaven and being set down at his Fathers right hand was crowned with the highest degree of glory The RULES I. The efficient cause of this Exaltation was the whole Trinity II. But Christ considered according to dispensation is the object thereof III. The exaltation of Christs person was according to both natures IV. According to his humane nature he was exalted by laying aside the infirmities which he assumed and by obtaining those gifts which before he wanted For he attained as great a perfection both in his body and soul as
root Hajah he was So it is the symbol of that Supream entity which was is and is to come from eternity to eternity Rev. 1.4.6 Because he remains still the same Psa 102.28 And is the cause of the being of all things Act. 17.28 Hence it is proper to God Esay 42.8 Neither is it ascribed to the creatures but Metonymically so far forth as they are symbols of Gods presence So it is given to the Altar Exod. 17.15 to the Ark Psa 47.6 to Jerusalem Ezech. 48.35 II. The same name in promises and Divine comminations or threatnings is of great force Hence are these phrases Thus saith Jehovah the word of Jehovah c. For Gods Word is as sure as himself is true or as he endureth still like himself III. The name Elohim though of the plurall number yet is not the personal but an essential Name of God and according to the Hebrew Idiotism it is spoken of one God and of each Person Hence there are not three Elohim or Gods but one alone As it is rightly said in the Creed of Athanasius The Father Almighty the Son Almighty and the Holy Ghost Almighty yet not three Almighties but one Almighty So because God is called Elohim from his power there are not three but one Elohim Psal 7. Elohim Zaddik just God The Divine properties are Gods attributes by which he is pleased to make himself known to us weak Mortals and is by them distinguished from the Creatures The RULES I. The Proprieties of God are not qualities or accidents or real entities different from the essence or from each other This will appear below in the attribute of Gods simplicity II. The Divine Properties are neither separable from the essence nor from each other This Rule overthrows the Lutheran Tenet concerning the transfusion of the Divine properties into the Humane Nature of Christ for if this be capable of ubiquity omniscience omnipotency why not also of eternity And these Proprieties are either incommunicable to the Creatures or communicable in some analogical effects Of the first rank are his Simplicity and Infinity Among these are reckoned his immutability and perfection but these are onely Corollaries or Appendices to his simplicity and infinity His Simplicity is that by which he is known to be an entity truly one and free from all composition His Infinity is that by which he is known to be an entitie infinitely true and good and without measure or bounds The RULES I. God is * A. R. * There is no composition in God neither Physical nor Logical nor Metaphysical because in him there is no priority nor posteriority as in composition where the compositum is posterior to the parts compounding 2. In composition there is act and possibility but God is all Act. 3. In composition the parts differ from the compositum but in God there is no difference 4. There is no composition in the form but God is a most simple form 5. Whatsoever is compounded hath a cause of that composition but in God there is no cause an entity truly and most simply One Because he is not compounded of parts nor of a genus and difference nor of substance and accidents nor of a possibility and act nor of entity and essence II. There is then nothing in God which is not God himself III. Gods essence is by us incomprehensible For there is no proportion between finite and infinite no more then between a nut-shell and the Ocean IV. God is altogether all all in himself all in all things all in every thing and all out of every thing V. God is neither circumscribed nor defined by place nor is included within it nor excluded without it VI. God is eternal without beginning without end without change The properties of the latter rank are 1. The Life of God 2. His Will 3. His Power His Life is the attribute of his being His Will of commanding His Power of execution The RULES I. The Proprieties of the latter rank are ascribed to God according to the proprieties of the first that is most simply and infinitely II. Hence these are predicated or spoken of God not onely in the concrete but in the abstract also For not onely is he named living wise just good but also life wisdom justice goodness III. Whereas the life of God is most simple and infinite it will follow 1. That his life and his actual living is all one 2. That though he hath no other cause then himself by which he liveth yet he is the cause of life in all living creatures in respect of whom their life is but as it were begged and borrowed 3. That the life of God is most perfect most blessed and immutable IV. Whereas the understanding of God is most simple and infinite it follows that he * A. R. Whereas to understand is to comprehend the thing understood God doth not properly understand that is comprehend himself for so he should be less then himself but he understands himself negatively that is he is not ignorant of himself understands himself primarily as an infinite object 2. That he knoweth all things most exquisitely though they are not revealed to the Creatures 3. That he knoweth all things by himself 4. And that by one and most simple act for he neeeds no revelation nor discourse either from the effect or from the cause from that which is more known to that which is less known 5. Things past and things to come are no less known to him then things present 6. His knowledge is infinite 7. Free from all ignorance and Oblivion V. Whereas the Will of God is most simple therefore 1. In him there are not either two or more or contrary Wills There are indeed divers distinctions of his Will as shall be seen in the Doctrine of Gods Decrees but these distinctions are nominal rather then real 2. The primary object of Gods will is God himself 3. The Will of God is most free 4. Nothing is done against the Will of God 5. The Will of God according to its divers objects hath divers names to wit of holiness goodness love grace mercy wrath justice and such like VI. Whereas the power of God is most simple and infinite it follows 1. That his power is one 2. That he is truly omnipotent for not only can he do what he will but also more then he will 3. From the power of God we must not infer * A. R. There is in God a twofold power the one absolute the other ordinary by that he can do all that may be done by this he can do only those things which his justice and will commands to be done the act or being of a thing unless when his will and power are joyned together 4. The object of Gods omnipotency is whatsoever is not repugnant to his nature or implies a contradiction and therefore is rather of not impossibilities then of possibilities Therefore to lie to make the thing done undone or to make mans
wrath nor had he been able to subdue or abolish death and Satan without the vertue of the Deity neither could he have saved his Church nor have subdued his enemies Neither is it any hindrance to this Truth that there is one Mediator of God and man the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 for there the word man is not the word of the nature but of the person and when he is said to be the Mediator of God and man it is presupposed that the Mediation is hypostatical as Christ is God and man In the interim there are many testimonies which prove the operation of the Deitie Act. 20.28 God redeemed the Church by his own blood Heb. 9.14 By the eternal Spirit he offered himself Joh. 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sinne And although the Son be the Party offended yet it hinders not but that he may be Mediator to himself For as properly Righteousness is called in respect of another but analogically in respect of us so Mediation is properly in reference to others but analogically in relation to the Mediator himself Christ indeed being absolutely considered is the offended party yet the same is Mediator in that he hath undertaken this office in himself of an Intercessor by a gratious dispensation No otherways then if the son of a King who being as much offended by Rebellion as his Father should notwithstanding plead for the Rebels and reconcile them to his Father V. The object of Christs office is God offended and man the offender VI. The manner whereby he is called to this office consisteth in that plentiful unction of Christ by which he received the gifts of the Spirit without measure in respect of us Psal 45.8 God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me Joh. 3.34 God gave him not the Spirit by measure VII The end of this office is that by whom God created all things by him he might to himself reconcile all things Col. 1.20 VIII Christ is Mediator both in merit and efficacy in merit because he hath most fully satisfied for us in efficacy because he doth effectually apply this merit to us Hence again it is apparent that this office is administred by him not onely according to his humanity but according to his divinity also to wit without which neither could his merit be of infinite value nor could it be applied to us He doth then save and quicken us he pardoneth our sins and hears our prayers in his humane nature by his merit in his divine by his efficacy IX Christ is the sole and one Mediator Act. 14.12 For in no other is there salvation nor is there any other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one Mediator of God and man the man Christ Jesus This office of Christ is threefold Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal His Prophetical office was to instruct his Elect in heavenly Truths the parts whereof are the external Preaching of Gods will and the internal illumination of the minde His Sacerdotal office is to appear for us before God with full satisfaction and to intercede for us the parts whereof are Satisfaction and Intercession His Regal office is to rule and preserve the Church the parts whereof are the Government of the Church and the destruction of his enemies CHAP. XVIII Of the Humiliation of Christ SO much of the Person and Office of the Mediator Christ the State thereof is the condition in which Christ as God-man did execute his office of Mediatorship and this is either of his Humiliation or of his Exaltation The State of Humiliation is in which he took the form of a Servant being in the form of God and gave obedience to his Father for us he died and was buried and went down to Hell And in this state he so performed his Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal office that in a manner he stript himself of the form and glory of the Divinity He did not cast off the Divinity but had it in the assumed form of a servant And although the Deity of Christ did manifest it self in the state of his Humiliation chiefly by miracles yet this was little in comparison of that glorious manifestation of him in his Exaltation In the state of Humiliation he performed his Prophetical office not only mediately by sendding John Baptist his Herauld before and by the Apostles whom he called but also immediately to his lost sheep especially of Israel by preaching to them the heavenly Truth with great constancy patience and efficacy both of his doctrine and miracles But his Sacerdotal office he administred in this state making a most full satisfaction and an humble intercession for us The satisfaction of Christ is that whereby he being subject to the Law for us did undergo the curse due to our sins and performed most perfectly obedience to the Law which was required of us and so hath freed us from the curse and hath restored us to life This consisteth in suffering the pains and in perfect justice in that is seen chiefly his passive in this his active obedience I do purposely adde this restriction that we may not think his active and passive obedience so to differ as if the suffering of the punishment consisted onely in his passive obedience and his perfect justice onely in his active for they differ not in time seeing both of them continued from the first moment of his incarnation till his death Nor do they differ in subject because the same obedience in a different respect is both active and passive and consequently Christs obedience is an active passion and a passive action for as passion is a receiving of the punishment it is called passive obedience but as it is a testimony of his great love it may be called active Neither is the division of obedience into active and passive a division into parts but onely a distinction taken from the end to wit the twofold satisfaction for punishment and for life eternal The curse upon the transgressors of the Law requires the former Deut. 27.26 The promise of life under the condition of perfect obedience and righteousness requires the latter Lev. 18.15 Therefore we are said Analogically by that one and most perfect satisfaction of Christ both to be freed from the punishment because he suffered the punishment for us and to be invested in the right of life eternal because he fulfilled the Law for us The suffering of punishment is whereby he undertook upon himself the punishment due to us and offered himself of his own accord a holy Sacrifice to God for us This consisteth both in the sufferings which went before his great and last Passion but especially in this last agonie The RULES I. No part of Christs Passion must be excluded from * A. R. Christs passions were truly satisfactory if 1.
for that fiction of Christs triumph in hell both because he triumphed not before his resurrection as also because heaven was the fit place of his triumph not hell Again whereas the word Shcâ—l sometime signifieth the grave and sometime Hell the place of the damned hence it is that the phrase of Christs descent into hell hath divers meanings in Scripture for either it is the same thing that is to be buried Psal 16.10 Thou wilt not leave my soule in hell Or it is the same that is to fall into extreme tortures and anguish 1 Sam. 2.6 The Lord bringeth down to hell and bringeth out Psal 8.6 The sorrowes of hell compassed me about Or else it signifieth the state of them who are oppressed and swallowed by death Ps 49.15 Like sheep they lie in hell death gnaweth upon them Isa 14.11 c. The first exposition hath no place in the fourth Article of the Creed for it is unlikely that in so brief an Epitome of Faith there should be any tautologie or that a plain speech should be declared by a darker In the second the inconvenience of a disordered narration seems to resist to wit that Christs extreme sadnesse and anguish of mind are rehearsed to be after his death But Calvin makes the matter plain shewing that the order of things and not of time is observed so that there are two members of that Article the former is of the tortures of the body the latter of the internal torments of the mind They who maintain the third exposition do chiefly urge the order of passages both because the detention of Christ in the grave is the last degree of humiliation as also because by this means the degrees of his joyful exaltation do answer the sufferings of Christ to wit his Resurrection answers his Death the Sepulture his ascension to heaven and his descending to hell the sitting at his Fathers right hand Now as this opinion is not disliked so the former is not rashly to be rejected nor should we dispute contumaciously in this matter seeing this clause of Christs descent to hell was not alwayes added to the fourth Article as the Nicene Creed and divers others do witnesse So that this may remain firm that neither his spiritual agonies in his soule nor his three dayes detention in the grave ought to be separated from his sufferings XVIII For the forme or manner of his Passion He suffered 1. Truly 2. Holily and innocently 3. Voluntarily These three things are to be well observed For if he had not truly suffered he had not satisfied if he had not suffered holily and innocently we could not have a perfect High-Priest Heb. 7.26 If lastly he had not voluntarily submitted himself his sacrifice had been compulsory not free hence he saith Heb. 10.7 Behold here I am to do thy will ô God XIX The generall end of Christs paâ—sion is the glory of God and chiefly the manifestation of his wrath against sinne as also of his justice and mercy besidâ—s the declaration of the Divine and Humane naâ—ures But the proper and special end is Satisfaction for our sinnes XX. In the end and use of every particular Passion a regard is to be had of that Analogie in which the Expiation is compared with the Sin and the Passion with the Punishment which we should have suffered For example He sustained most grievous tortures in his soul and body both that the sinnes of soul and body might be expiated as also that we might be delivered from those spiritual corporal pains which eternally we should have suffered His death upon the crosse was execrable partly that he might expiate the sins by which we deserved to be accursed partly that he might free us from that curse and damnation He was buried to testifie that our sins were buried with him and that he might sanctifie our graves in which as in prisons we were to be detained untill the horrible day of Judgement by turning them into sleeping places His three dayes detention in the grave teacheth that we had deserved that for our sins death had eternally reigned over us if his ignominious detention had not also satisfied for this punishment XXI They do annihilate the end and fruit of Christs Passion who say that he suffered onely for this that he might be an example to us 'T is true that Christ by suffering hath left us an example but the main fruit of his Passion is the satisfaction for our sins The Socinians acknowledge Christ a Saviour onely in these things 1. In that he preached celestial Truth 2. That he confirmed it 3. That he was our example in his Passion and Resurrection 4. In that at length he bestows life eternal on us But when we alleadge testimonies out of Scripture concerning Christs death for us they elude them by saying that he died for us that is for our good but not for us that is in our place or stead But this most pestilent Heresie is refuted by these subsequent Arguments 1. Because he so died for us that he gave his life as the price of redemption for many Mat. 20.28 who gave himself a ransom for all 2 Tim. 2.6 that he is said to redeem us with his pretious blood 1 Pet. 1.18 19. You are saith he redeemed Now who knows not that it is one thing to be an example of salvation and freedom and another thing to pay a ransom for any for he that satisfieth not for his slave or in his stead how doth he pay a ransom for him 2. Because he died so for us that he was made sin for us 2 Cor. 5.21 That he took our sins upon him and he bore the punishment due to our sins Isâ— 53.4 Is then the taking of anothers sin upon him and the suffering of the punishment due to another onely the shewing of an example and not to satisfie and to be punished in his stead 3. If the sacrifices of the Old Testament were offered by the Priests for the People or in their stead then Christs sacrifice also was performed in our stead the former is true therefore so is the latter They assever boldly that in Scripture there is no example where the particle for is the same that in anothers stead but who sees not this in these subsequent testimonies Joh. 10.11 The good shepherd layeth down his life for his sheep to wit by fighting even to death in the stead or place of his sheep Rom. 5.7 Scarce will one die for a just man Rom. 8.26 The Spirit maketh intercession for us and ver 13. If God be for us who can be against us and ver 9. I could wish to be accursed for my brethren Neither doth the eternity of pain due to our sins make Christs Passion an insufficient ransom in that he suffered not eternally for us because though his punishment was not eternal in regard of time yet it is equivalent to eternal pain both in respect of the infinite majestie and dignity of Christs
the creature was capable of V. He was exalted according to his divine nature not by accession of any dignity to it being considered in it self but by the manifestation of that majesty which before was hid under the form of a servant VI. * A. R. It is said here that Christ obtained his exaltation by his obedience nor by the way of merit It is true that Christ as God cannot merit Nor 2. did he merit the grace of union as man for that was infinitely more then man or Angels could merit Nor 3. did he merit by the act of free-will in his conception that plenitude of grace and knowledge which was infused into him Nor 4. did he merit any thing which was not due to him in respect of the Personal union Yet we may not deny but that he merited whatsoever honour was conferred on him before his death and likewise his exaltation after his resurrection for so the Apostle sheweth that because Christ humbled himself and because obedient to the death of the crosse therefore God exalted him Phil. 2.9 10 11. He shall drink of the brook in the way therefore shal he lift up his head Ps 110. Therefore S. Austin in Joh. tract 104. cals Christs humility the merit of his glory and his glory the reward of his humility This glory then was Christs due both in respect of the personal union and also in respect of merit for why may not a thing be due in a double respect Christ attained to this exaltation by his obedience not as it were by merit but as it were by the means or way VII The end hereof was to witnesse that he faithfully performed the office enjoyned him in his humiliation and to manifest his divine power by which he doth powerfully apply his merit to us The parts or degrees of this are three His Resurrection his Ascension to heaven and his Sitting at the Fathers right hand His resurrection was the first degree of exaltation by which Christ having overcome the power of death was raised the third day in that very flesh which he had laid down that he might live to God for ever The RULES I. Christ was not only the object but also the efficient cause of his resurrection Rom. 1.4 Being declared with power to be the Son of God according to the Spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead 1 Pet. 3.18 He died concerning the flesh but was quickned in the Spirit II. The matter of the Resurrection is the same body that was crucified but endowed and glorified with new qualities III. Neither was it so changed as to lose its quantity and three dimensions For otherwise it had been no body nor had Christ remained man in his Resurrection IV. The Forme consisteth in a new and indivisible union of soul and body V. Although Christs Resurrection was altogether miraculous yet it is false that his body passed through the stone which covered the grave or that it passed through the door after his Resurrection Mat. 28.2 The Angel of the Lord rolled away the stone Joh. 20.19 The doors being shut not through the doors that were shut VI. The end of his Resurrection besides that general end which was mentioned before is the assurance of our Resurrection both from the death of sin as also from death corporal Rom. 6.1 2. 1 Cor. 15.12 c. His ascension to Heaven was the second degree of his Exaltation in which Christ after he had conversed fourty days with his Disciples upon earth ascended into heaven The RULES I. Christ ascended both according to his divine and humane natures according to his humane at the object according to his divine as the efficient cause II. The Forme consisteth in Christs real and local translation from this world to the highest heaven III. Here we need not trouble our selves about penetration of bodies both because heaven is not a solid thick or iron body as the Philosophers would have it as also because one body can easily yield to another and the creature to the Creator IV. The doctrine of Christs corporal presence here on earth doth utterly overthrow that of his Ascension V. The special end of Christs ascension is to assure us of our threefold ascension the first is of faith and godlinesse in this life the second of our souls in death the third of body and soul in the last day The sitting of Christ at his Fathers right hand is the highest degree of his Exaltation by which being placed in heaven he is exalted above all power Eph. 1.20.21.22 He hath set him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all principalities and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not in this world onely but in that also which is to come and hath made all things subject under his feet and hath appointed him over all things to be the head to his Church which is his body and the fulness of him that filleth all in all things The RULES I. To sit at Gods right hand is to have the next power after God After the manner of Kings who use to set them on their right hands to whom they will give the chief honour next to themselves Psal 45.10 The queen is at thy right hand 1 King 2.19 When Bathsheba came to Solomon to speak unto him for Adonijah the king rose to meet her and bowed himself to her and sat down on his throne and he caused a seat to be set for the Kings mother and she sate at his right hand Mat. 20.21 command that my two sons may sit the one at thy right hand the other at thy left in thy Kingdom II. Christ according to both Natures sits at Gods right hand III. The Humanity was so exalted that yet it was not made equal to the Divinity he received glory above all creatures yet not equal to that essential glory which he hath in common with the Father and the Holy Ghost In this highest degree of Exaltation Christ hath not left to do his office He performed his Prophetical office by furnishing his Ministers with gifts of old extraordinarily but now by ordinary means propagating his Gospel through all the world with most happy successe Ephes 4.11 Some he gave to be Apostles c. His Priestly office he exerciseth not in offering himself again or in casting himself with cries and sighs at his Fathers knees but in appearing before his Father for us with the merits of his most full satisfaction and in applying the same effectually to us Psal 110.4 The Lord hath sworn and will not repent thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek Heb. 9.24 He hath not entred into the Sanctuary made with hands which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary but is entred into the very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for us Lastly He useth his Kingly office not onely by ruling the Triumphant Church but also by gathering together the Militant Church
ye should be wise in your own conceit that blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in and so all Israel shall be saved The Apostles scope in this is to dehort Christians from insulting over the Jews that are rejected because they themselves are called The reason is because by their ruine the Gentiles have received salvation ver 11. Yet so that all hope of reconciliation is not cut off from the Jews ver 15. Nor are they exempted from being rejected who being Christians onely in name are puffed up in their mindes ver 20 21. That former passage of the rejection of the Jews which was not altogether without hope of pardon doth shew in a mysterie that the Jews were not totally but in part only rejected not in respect of time for it was to last onely a while but in respect of that part of the Jewish Nation which contains the Reprobates so that the meaning is this blindness hath hapned not to all the Jews but to a part onely that is to the reprobates Neither have these words untill the fulness of the Gentiles come in this meaning that there shall be such a plausible calling of the Jews after the fulness of the Gentiles is come in For there is nothing more usual then that these particles untill or till being denyed or affirmed signifie the same that never or always As we shewed above c. 19. Neither doth that which the Apostle subjoyns v. 26. hinder any thing this interpretaton And so all Israel shall be saved For by the name of all Israel he understands the Elect which indeed are the true Israelites as above c. 9.7 c. he sheweth And also in the following places v. 28 c. 11. he explains saying As concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes but as touching the Election they are beloved for their fathers sakes The summe of the whole place is this The rejection of the Jewes nation in part whereby blindnesse shall remain upon the reprobate doth no wayes prejudice the elect of that same nation but they also and so all Israel shall be saved See Calvin on this place VII The signe of Christs presence shall be doubtless an incredible brightness and majestie in which he shall appear For he shall come in the clouds of heaven Mat. 26.64 with incredible glory Mat. 25.31 accompanied with the whole army of his Angels ibid. with a great shout and voice of the Archangel 1 Thess 4.16 By reason of his brightness the Sun and Moon shall be darkned as lesser lights by the greater and stars shall fall from heaven that is they shall seem to fall from heaven and the powers of heaven shall be shaken Mat. 24.29 yea at his sight heaven and earth shall seem to flie away Rev. 20.11 Thus of Christs coming The resurrection of the dead is whereby the bodies of the dead shall be raised but the bodies of those that remain alive shall be changed and shall be again united to their souls by an indissoluble union The RULES I. The Resurrection called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is First or Second That is a resuscitation from the death of sinne to the life of righteousnesse This is a revocation from death corporal to life Rev. 20.6 Blessed is he who hath part in the first resurrection II. The Scripture proves the Resurrection of the dead by testimonies a examples b types c and reasons d a Iob 19.25 26. Dan. 12.2 Hos 13.14 Mat. 22.31 c. 27.52 Ioh. 5.26 27 28. Phil. 3.21 1 Thess 4. and other such like places b The example of those that were raised by the ministery of Eliah 1 King 17.22 Elisha 2 King 4.34 2 King 13.21 by Christ also Mat. 9.25 Luc. 7.14 Ioh. 11.11 Mat. 27.52 53. and by the Apostles Act. 9.40 20.10 c The type of Aarons Rod budding Num. 17. of the Jews returning from Babylon Ezek. 37. but chiefly of Henoch and Elias Gen. 5. 2 King 2. d Reasons are drawn from the covenant of God which is not broken by death Mat. 22.30 from the promises of life eternal from the Sacraments which are seals thereof which 1 Cor. 15. are set down at large but the chief reason is drawn from Christ who is not only the type and example of our resurrection but the beginning also thereof for from the life of the Head we undoubtedly gather the life of the mystical body III. Though the Resurrection of the dead is above nature and mans corrupt reason yet it is neither against nature nor against right reason For right reason teacheth that the dead can be raised and shall be raised That is gathered from his omnipotence this from his justice For as it is just that some sins be punished after this life so it is just likewise that what was the companion of sin should be the companion of pain IV. The generall efficient cause of the Resurrection is the whole Trinity the particular is Christ our Lord. Christ is the efficient cause of this three wayes 1. As God 2. As the Judge of the world 3. As Mediator The first two wayes he is the efficient cause of resurrection both in the elect and reprobate but the third way he is the cause of the resurrection of the faithful by his merit efficacie and inchoation V. The matter is the same numerical body that man had in this life Besides Iobs testimony Iob 19.26 the reason annexed to the third Canon taken from Gods justice proves this VI. The form consisteth in the reunion of body and soul and restoring of the dead to life and in the sudden change of those that remain and in their freedome from corruption 1 Cor. 15.51 VII The end is the declaration of Gods justice and mercy of that in raising the wicked to condemnation of this in raising the godly to life eternal Dan. 12.2 Joh. 5.28.29 VIII In the Resurrection the godly shall be freed not only from corruption and bodily defects but shall be crowned also with glory 1 Cor. 15.42 43 44. It is sowed in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sowed in dishonour it is raised in glory it is sowed in weaknesse it is raised in power it is sowed a natural body it is raised a spiritual body CHAP. XXXV Of the last Judgement SO much of the antecedents of the last Judgment The Judgment it self is that most glorious act whereby Christ shall judge the whole world The RULES I. The certainty of the last Judgment is proved by the same arguments by which we proved the certainty of Christs coming and of our resurrection II. The general efficient principal cause is the whole Trinity the particular is Christ our Lord in the assumed humane nature but glorified III. The chiefe power of Judicature shall be in Christ for to him all power is given and from whom no appeal can be made to any superiour IV. This Judge shall be
Of the Principal Matters and Words ADam and Eves fall 58 Adam in his fall not a private person 61 Adjuration what and how we are to obey it 281 Adjuration of Devils ibid. Adoration of idols of the hoast of the Crosse of Reliques of holy Angels and dead men 270 c. Adoration of Saints 272 c. Adultery what the cause of divorce 312 Affections how manifold 336 Agnus Dei idolatry 272 Alms 324 Angels when created 39. what 42. in what bodies they appeared ibid. the head of good Angels their felicity order and office 50 51. if their adoration be lawful 272 The apostacy of evil Angels 52. their sin ibid. their Prince ibid. their remaining qualities 53 Anger 304 Antichrist what and who 185 his ruine how a signe of the last judgement 186 c. Appetite ordered or disordered 336 Arke of the Covenant 83 Assurance vide Salvation Astorgie or want of natural affection 300 Atheisme 250 Avarice vide Covetousnes BAptisme what 152. how it differs from the Lords Supper 160. if to be administred by a private man 153. if in Baptisme one or three sprinklings be required 154. if children are to be baptised 155. how Baptisme is necessary 156. if the Baptisme of Christ and John be the same ibid. Bargains how to be made 320 Beatitude its degrees 240 Beneficence 324 Benevolence 300 Boldnesse vide Fortitude Foolish Bragging 332 Bread in the Eucharist what 157 c. Busie bodies 301 CAlling how manifold 133 Calling common to elect and reprobate 134 Calling proper to the elect 192. how it differs from the common 197 Calumnies 329. impatience in bearing Calumnies 333 Censuring 332 Charity towards God 252. towards our neighbour 289 Chastity 309. how preserved 307 Christ eternal God 19 20 c. his incarnation 90 94. how the first born 103. his conception 94. the union of two natures in Christ 96. communication of properties 97. the excellency of Christs humane nature 99. if equal to the divine nature 130. his adoration 99. his knowledg how manifold ibid. his perfections what 101. his generation twofold 102. his nativity 101. fruit thereof 104. his exinanition 108. Christs office in his humiliation ib. 124. and in his exaltation 130. his office of mediatorship 104. in what nature he was mediator 105. how manifold 106. our mediator ib. works of mediation 94. his active and passive obedience 109. the necessity of both ib. 120. his active how shadowed 123. his passive how the cause of life eternal 122 his passion 110. each part thereof satisfactory ib. how attributed to Christ and how manifold 115. if he despaired on the cross 111. his death what 112. if he died for all 119. his sepulture 113 114 c. his three dayes detention in the grave 113. his descent to hell 114. his intercession 124. his exaltation 125. his resurrection 127 c. what body he had after his resurrection 126 127. his ascension with its fruits 127. c. whether yet on earth 129. how present in the Supper 143 160. his return or second coming its signs 220 c. Christs kingdome how to be delivered up to the Father 131. Christs justice vide I. works vide W. Church what 162. her forme and head 163. how one holy catholique 164 165. her marks or notes 166. if she can erre ibid. her administration 158 170. her office concerning controversies of Religion 175. false Church what and what sorts 183 184. Church goods 172 Clemencie 304 Complaints in affliction 254 Concupiscence original 335 actual 336. to beresisted 339 Confessiō of the truth 276 282 Confidence for the forme of faith 200. for the effect of faith and good works 251 idolatrous confidence ibid. Conscience 248 Consecration true and superstitious 276 277 Constancie 248 Contempt of superiors 297 Contentation v. self-sufficiency Covenant of works the seals thereof 55 Covenant of grace 136 c. how the new and old differ 138. the seales of both 146 Covetousnesse 325 Councels how to be convened 180. Councels Papistical 243 Courtesie 331. Craft 247 Creation 39. Cruelty 291 305 Curiosity 328 DAmnatiō if the end of reprobatiō 37. the pains state of the damned 70 Death of man fourfold 69 Decalogue its parts and rules of interpreting it 75 Deceit when lawful 306 Gods decree what 28. its causes objects if one or many 31 Denial of the truth 282 Desperation 251 c. Destruction of the world 234 Diffidence or distrust in God 251. Diligence 301 Disobedience to superiors 299 Dissembling when lawful 247 when unlawful 282 The Praecognita of Divinity I If malicious desertiō may cause divorce 317 Double-mindednesse 329 Doubtings of Gods goodnesse and power 250 251 Drunkennesse 308 ELection for calling to an office 133. for spiritual calling 192. for Gods decree what it is 31. its causes and marks ib. the Elect if they may become reprobate 216 Envy 292. Of two Evils what is to be chosen 247 FAith for a part of Gods worship 250. for constancie in words and deeds 329. of miracles temporary historical 198 Saving faith what ibid. and whence 199 its quality and degrees ib. how it justifieth 204 implicite faith what 200 presumption of faith 250 Fall of Adam 59 Fasting what 262. and how to be kept 263 Fear of God 252. servile and filial fear ibid. Feasts 85. Flattery 328 Folly 246. Fortitude 305 Free-will 57 62 Friendship true counterfeit 294. Frugality v. Parsimony GEntlenesse 331 our Glorification 239 God his names essence and properties 12 13 14 Gospel what and how it differs from the Law 87 Gratitude towards God 253 towards our superiors 299 Gravity 330 HAppinesse v. Beatitude Hardning v. Induration Hatred of God 252 Hatred of our neighbour 290 Hell where 71. Heretick who 184. Honesty 310. Hope 251 Humanity 291. Hypocrisie 248 IDlenesse 326 Idolatry what and how manifold 266 268 An idol what how it differs from an image or picture 266 Images of Christ and of the Saints idols 268. also the painting of the Trinity 269 vid. Worship Image of God what 41. of what gifts it consisteth 56 what of it remains since the fall 64 Impatience 254 Impatience of correction 299 Imprecations 281 Imprudence 247 Inconstancie 249 Indulgence too much 304 Induration how ascribed to God 49 253 Industry 325 Infants baptisme and faith 155 Infidelity 250 Ingratitude towards God 253 towards our superiors 300 Inhumanity 291 Injuries how lawfully repelled 302 Insensibility 308 Integrity 248 Intemperance 308 Intercessors of the Papists 124 Christs intercession vid. C. Irreverence to superiors 297 Last Judgement with its circumstances and signes 230 Justice how used in Scripture 210 Christs justice 119. how manifold 120 Justice towards our neighbour what and how manifold 295 320. Justice commutative how to be exercised 295 300 320. of superiors to inferiors 300. Vindicative justice 305 To justifie in Script what 202 The causes and parts of Justification ibid. 203 The Keyes and power thereof what 176 c. how it differs from the power of