first and the last Rev. 1.11 Rev. 22.13 Rev. 2.8 Rev. 1.17 Who is the first though not the first alone because the Father is with him He is the beginning the ending Re. 22.13 He is the everlasting Father Isai 9.6 who though born in Bethlehem in regard of his humanitie yet in respect of his Divinity his goings forth hath been from of old from everlasting Mich. 5.2 Or as the Originall will beare it from the dayes of eternitie His Kingdome is everlasting Isai 9.7 Luk. 1.33 Rev. 11.15 His Throne is for ever and ever Heb. 1.8 Psal 45.7 He is without beginning or ending Heb. 3.7 He liveth for ever Rev. 1.18 Heb. 7.25 He is before all things Col. 1.17 18. He is eternal life 1 Joh. 5.20 1 Joh. 1.2 As he is the Sonne of Man he is a Priest after the order of Melchizedeck Heb. 7.15 But as he is the Sonne of God Melchizedeck is said to be like unto him that abideth a Priest continually Heb 7.3 The heavens and all other creatures shall faile but his yeares faile not Heb. 1.12 Yea the Jewes knew that the Messiah must be eternall John 12.34 John the Evangelist proveth the eternitie of Christ First because he had his being before any creature was created 1 Joh. 1.12 Secondly because he was begotten of the Father Joh. 1.18 Joh. 3.16 he was not created not made as creatures are and John Baptist sheweth Christ to be after him yet before him Joh. 1.30 After him in his Humanitie yet before him in regard of his Divinitie Yea the beloved Disciple John speaking of Christ he repeateth was foure times Joh. 1.1 2. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and that Word was God The same was in the beginning with God He was was was was where can wicked blasphemers shew he was not Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is eternall He is the eternall Spirit Heb. 9.14 and the everlasting God which gave Commandements by the Prophets Rom. 16.26 That this was the Holy-Ghost is manifest For he spake and commanded by them 2 Pet. 1.21 Eph. 3.5 Nehem. 9.30 Isai 6.9 10. with Act. 28.25 26. 2 Sam. 23.2 he abideth with the faithfull for ever John 14.16 The Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost are consubstantiall coeternall of one and the same Substance Essence and Nature being one eternall Lord God which hath being in and by himselfe alone There cannot be more infinites nor more eternals then one as God is who is one in essence though distinguished into three Persons Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which are not before or after each other in regard of any prioritie of Nature Honour or Time but onely in Order who are before or after each other onely in order of subsisting and working Thus the Father is before the Sonne in order who is begotten of his Father and doth nothing but what he seeth the Father doe Joh. 5.19 And the Father and the Sonne before the Holy-Ghost in order who proceedeth from them Joh. 15.26 and who speaketh not of himselfe Joh. 16.13 but receiveth of the Father and of the Sonne and sheweth that unto the faithfull Joh. 16.14 15. that neither is the Sonne before or after the Father in time neither is the Holy-Ghost after either of them but being Relatives are together by nature CHAP. IV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are Omnipresent OMnipresency is a propertie peculiar to God he is ever with us ever before us he alwayes overseeth us though our eyes see him not His essence is immeasurable He filleth all places Act. 7.49 1 Kin. 8.2 7. Isai 66.1 He is a God at hand and a God afarre off Jer. 23.23 God alone is every where Psal 139.8 9. Amos 9.2 3 4. He is not in loco definitivo in any place definitively as Angels are much lesse is he in loco circumscriptivo in any place circumscriptively as corporeall creatures are But he is every where present whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot containe 2 Chron. 6.18 He is in Heaven reigning in Glory and Majestie He is in earth ruling by his power and providence he is in Hell tormenting with his wrath and justice First in regard of all Creatures the immensitie and greatnesse of God is seene working in and by them Act. 17.28 and present with them And so First the Father is present in all places his eyes are upon the children of men and he heareth the prayers of his servants in all places Joh. 16.23 he dwelleth in th faithfull Joh. 14.23 Secondly the Sonne is present in all places when he was on earth in regard of his humanitie was also in heaven in regard of his Divinity Joh. 3.13 And now though ascendâ—d into heaven in regard of his humanitie Act. 1.9 10 11. Act. 7.55 yet in regard of his Divinitie he is ruling by his power both in heaven and in earth and in all places under the earth Phil. 2.10 The Lambe who is in the midst of the Throne and of the foure Beasts and in the midst of the Elders Rev. 5.6 yet also walketh in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks Rev. 2.1 yea where two or three are gathered together he is in the middest of them Mat. 18.20 he is with all the faithfull to the end of the world Mat. 28.20 yea he dwelleth in them Ephes 3.17 And surely where God the Father is he is in the unity of the essence with him Joh. 1.1 being in the Father and the Father in him Joh. 14.10 11. filling all things Ephes 4.10 At his ascension he ascendeth where he was before Joh. 6.62 he ascended with his bodie into heaven where he was before in his Deitie Joh. 1.18 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is likewise every where David demandeth whither shall I goe from thy Spirit or whither shall I goe from thy presence Psal 139.7 Thus the Spirit with the Father and the Sonne are present every where The Holy-Ghost abideth at all times and in all places of the earth in the hearts of all faithfull men Joh. 14.16 17. he remaineth amongst the people of God Hag. 2.5 He dwelleth in them Rom. 8.11 Rom. 8.9 2 Tim. 1.14 1 Cor. 3.16 the beleevers are his Temples 1 Cor. 6.19 this one and the same Spirit worketh all gifts and all graces in all the faithfull 1 Cor. 12.11 2 Cor. 11.4 and is in all the hearts of the faithfull Gal. 4.6 and abideth in them for ever Joh. 17.16 1 Joh. 2.27 yea the Spirit of the Lord filleth the World and containeth all things Wisd 1.7 he proceedeth both from the Father and the Sonne Joh. 15.26 Joh. 16.7 and is with them which are mutually at the right hand of each other Psal 110.1 5. he being alwaies where they are Psal 139.7 David joyneth Gods presence and his Spirit together The Father and the Sonne being one in another Joh. 10.38 and he in both and they in him Zac. 7.12 he is the Lambes eyes who is in the midst of the Throne Rev. 5.6 he is before the
SCRIPTURE MANIFESTATION of the Equalitty of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Wherein is above an Hundred Particulars by parralell places of Scripture this truth is clearely confirmed NAMELY THAT THE Scriptures Manifest the Sonne and Holy Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them such Names Attributes Works and Worship as are proper to God alone By BENIAMIN AUSTIN Pastor of the Church of God at Castle-Ashbey in Northamptonshire There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 Goe and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost Mat. 28.19 Awake O Sword against my Shepheard and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hoasts Zac. 13.7 Christ Jesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God Phil. 2.5 6. LONDON Printed for P. W. and JOHN WRIGHT at the Kings Head in the Old-Baily 1650. To all those that love the Lord Jesus in Sincerity Brethren THE Beloved Disciple of the Lord telleth us 1 Joh. 2.18 That in his time there were many Antichrists Many that did seeme to professe Christ yet in truth did oppose him which in words would confesse him but in works would denye him Tit. 1.16 If the first Age of the Church could not escape the fuery of Satan and if those more pure times did not avoide the unbridled rage of his Antichristian Darlings we that live in the latter dayes which are the perillous times must not look to be free from Satans opposition nor hope to be exempted from the malice of his Antichristian Factours For the mystery of iniquity which was but hatching in the Apostles dayes is now grown to it 's full maturity it then began onely to worke 2 Thes 2.7 it is now acting with the efficacy of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2 Thes 2.9 And however there are many Antichrists in the world yet according to Johns threefold discription of them we may worke them into three heads For they are such as deliver poysonous Doctrine not truly grounded on Gods Word and doe oppose first the Divine Nature of Christ secondly the Humane Nature of Christ thirdly the Offices of Christ First there are Antichrists who doe oppose the Divine Nature of Christ as Cerinthians Arrians Samo-Satenians Jews Turkes and in a word the Sarcinians whose Doctrine is as it were a filthy sinke into which al the Heresies of former and latter Ages have emptyed themselves These the Apostle John directly describeth 1 Joh. 2.22 23. He is Antichrist that denyeth the Father and the Sonne For although never any Antichristian Heretick did in words deny the first Person and however they may pretend with the blinded Jews and misled Turkes they doe honour the Creatour of the World yet by taking away that personall relation which he hath to the Sonne they deny him by consequence to be a Father and dishonour both the Father and the Sonne However therefore they would undeseemedly fasten on us the Name of Antichrist because we affirme the Lord Jesus in Nature and Essence to be equall with the Father whenas even the Father stileth him his fellow Zac. 13.7 and the Sonne who is in the forme of God thinketh it no robbery to be equall with God Phil. 2.7 who was the onely begotten Sonne of God Joh. 1.14 18. Joh. 3.16 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 and said that God was his proper Father Joh. 5. â—8 and he is said to be his proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 for the word translated own is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Originall yea he is the Sonne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of himself Rom. 8.3 And therefore the name and nature of Antichrist agreeth to them and not to us For they oppose the Father and the Sonne and by denying Christ to be the eternall Sonne of God they deny also God the Father to be a true and eternall Father Thus doe they robbe them both of their excellent glory making the one to be no proper Father of Châ—â—st and the other to be no proper Sonne of God whom they blasphemously affirme to be a 〈…〉 Secondly they are Antichrists who deny the Humane Nature of Christ as Marcionites Valentinians Manichees and others They take away the benefit of his death and passion The Apostle doth more especially point at these 1 Joh. 4.3 and 2 John 7. where he sheweth him to be of an Antichristian Spirit that denyeth Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh Thirdly they are Antichrists who doe not oppose directly the person of Christ but by delivering Doctrine contrary to the Word doe oppose Christ in his three-fold Office First they depive Christ of his Kingly Office and make the Pope the Supreame and uncontroulable Head of the Church exalting him above all that is called God 2 Thes 2. namely above Angels Magistrates Divels which in Scripture are called Gods yea above God and Christ whenas they give power to him to prescribe Lawes which are more authentique to them then the Laws of God None being of power to dispence with his as he can and doth with Cods Lawes And they attribute such soveraignty to him as not onely to forgive sinnes on earth but to place or displace soules in Heaven or in Hell at his pleasure Secondly they take away the Propheticall Office of Christ For they in stead of teaching the Doctrine of Christ teach the Doctrine of the Devils 1 Tim. 4. Setting up Legens Councels Decreees Decretals Traditions and their corrupt glosses of the Text above the Scripture And with their Anagogicall Allegoricall and Tropicall interpretations of the Scriptures have quite taken away the true sense thereof Thirdly they divest Christ of his Priestly Office by Indulgencies Pardons Penances Pilgrimages Masses Dirges Purgatory workes of Supererogation and a thousand the like inventions have taken away the one al-sufficient Oblation and satisfaction of Christ All whose wearing service shall one day have no better reward then who required this at your hands yea that which in a word overthroweth all the Doctrine of Christ and was enough If Rome had stood guilty of no other errour to have made us to separate from her even her soule-destroying Doctrine of Justification by Workes For as the Apostle speaking of the Jewes told the true Church of Rome Rom. 10.3 They being Ignorant of Gods Righteousnesse and going about to establish their own Righteousnesse have not submitted themselves to the Righteousnesse of God These the Apostle John principally deciphereth in the Revelations Rev. 13. c. However these Antichrists are divided and doe crash one against another yet all doe fight against Christ and doe oppose his Church They being like Sampsons Foxes joyned together by the tailes with the fire of dissention betwixt them whereby they doe set on fire Gods dearely beloved Vinâ—yard And although Antichrist had alwayes a mouthfull of blasphemies yet never were
to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost I shall instance in these following First the Names of God in the Old Testament are 1. Jehovah 2. Lord of Hosts 3. Jah 4. Ehejeh or I am 5. El 6. Elohim 7. Adonai 8. Shaddai Secondly in the New Testament in the Greek 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God and Lord. Thirdly in both the Old Testament and the New 11. Father 12. Highest 13. Lord God 14. Lord God Almightie 15. Great God 16. Great King 17. The God of Israel CHAP. III. The Name Jehovah is ascribed to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost JEhovah is a Name of God that describeth unto us his essence It is derived of Havah esse to be First Because the Lord alone hath essence and being of himselfe Isa 44.6 Secondly He it is that alone giveth life and being to all creatures Act. 17.25 Thirdly He giveth being to his Word and Promises effecting what he speaketh and performing what he promiseth Isa 45.2 3. Ezek. 5.17 First This Name is proper to God alone Psal 83.19 Thou whose Name alone is Jehovah and Nehem. 9.6 Thou art Jehovah alone It is the incommunicable Name Wisd 19.21 because it is never simply given to any but to God onely It was called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Name that was not to be expressed either in regard of the Grecians which out of want of Letters could not write it or in respect of the Jewes which out of superstition would not speake it This Name because it could not be written in Greek hath the force of it opened by the Holy-Ghost Rev. 1.4 8. Rev. 4.8 Rev. 11.17 Rev. 16.15 styling the Lord He that is that was and that will be or is to come And that you may know he expresseth an Hebrew Name he varieth not the Cases according to the manner of the Greekes but speaking in the Genitive Case he putteth this Name in the Nominative Rev. 1.4 according to the Hebrew forme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Je the first syllable of the Name Jehovah is a note of the time to come Jeheveh He will be Ho a signe of the time present Hoveh He that is and Vah a Characteristicall marke of the time past Havah He was or hath beene This Name pointeth out the Eternitie of his Essence that he is God from everlasting to everlasting Psal 90.2 which is of himselfe and from himselfe a most absolute and perfect substance Secondly Although this Name Jehovah is a Name of Gods Essence and is alwayes used Singularly and never Plurally as Elohim and Adonai are which are Names of God in regard of his Personalitie or Subsistence and the Lord styleth himselfe one Jehovah Deut. 6.4 but never one Elohim yet the ancient Jewes before Christ did note the mysterie of the Trinitie in their expositions of this Name by twelve and by fortie and two Letters which they called Sem Hamphoras Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost was their exposition of this Name by twelve Letters in Hebrew And the Father is God the Sonne is God and the Holy-Ghost is God three in one and one in three is their exposition of that Name by fortie and two Letters it being written likewise with so many as R. Judas Nagid R. Hacadosh R. Moses Ben Mammon and others observe Adding moreover that this mysterie was to be kept secret untill the comming of the Messias who should more clearely reveale it R. Hacadosh in Galarazeia Yea they were so Catechized in the mysterie of the Trinitie that as P. Fagius observeth on Exod. 28. they collected this mysterie out of this Name which although it was called Tetragrammaton or the Name of foure Letters yet say they there were but three sorts of Letters in it י Jod signified the Father who was the beginning of all things ן Vau is a conjunction copulative and denoted the third Person ה He signified the Sonne of God And they affirme this Letter is doubled to demonstrate both Natures of the Messiah These and the like observations you may see in the learned Workes of the much admired and ever to be honoured Mornaeus de verit Christ Relig. P. Calat and others who have sufficiently proved that the ancienter Doctors of the Jewes beleeved this mysterie albeit their latter Rabbins in opposition to the Lord Jesus doe oppose it And surely the Jewes in Christs time were acquainted with this Truth in that they accuse Christ of Blasphemie when as he said he was the Sonne of God Joh. 10.33 First because he being but a man as they thought yet made himselfe God Joh. 10.33 Secondly because he made himselfe as they rightly concluded equall with God when as they said God was his Father Joh. 5.18 They not denying that there was a Sonne of God which was equall with the Father but denying him to be that Word and Sonne of God blaspheming him whom they accused of Blasphemie Mark 14.64 65. Joh. 19.7 And that the Holy-Ghost was knowne to them is evident Mat. 1.20 where the Angel telleth Joseph that Mary was with Child by the Holy-Ghost And John Baptist speaking of Christ saith He shall baptize you with the Holy-Ghost and with fire Mat. 3.10 In vaine had he spoken to them of the Holy-Ghost of whom they had not heard of before That place Act. 19.2 where the Disciples had not heard whether there were an Holy-Ghost it cannot be so understood as if they were ignorant of his Person but of the gifts of Tongues and Prophesying by him for first being Disciples they were baptized in the Name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost secondly when the Holy-Ghost is used Personally he is pointed out with one if not with two Articles in the Originall whereas when the word is used metonymically for his Gifts and Graces you have usually no Article in the Greek prefixed as in this and divers other places Thirdly you have the same expression used by the Evangelist John Joh. 7.39 The Holy-Ghost was not He was in Person before he was as touching sanctifying Graces before but he was not yet poured forth on the Disciples as Joel prophesied Joel 2.28 in gifts of Tongues and miraculous operations Thirdly This incommunicable and essentiall Name of God is sometimes used Personally and is then ascribed either to tho Father or to the Sonne or to the Holy-Ghost for First the Father is Jehovah Gen. 19.24 The Lord rained fire and brimstone from the Lord where you have the Sonne executing Judgement from Jehovah his Father and Zach. 3.2 The Lord said to Satan The Lord rebuke thee where one that is Jehovah speaketh of another Jehovah namely Christ speaketh of his Father and Psal 2.2 The Kings of the earth stand up against the Lord and against his Anointed Secondly the Sonne is Jehovah as in the two afore-cited places Gen. 19.24 Zach. 3.2 where the Sonne is stiled Jehovah even as the Father is Isa 25.9 This is the Lord we
Isa 6.9 First that this was the Father if any denie Isaias manifesteth it Isa 48.16 Secondly that it was the Sonne whose glory he saw when he sent him John averreth John 12.40 41. Thirdly that it was the Holy-Ghost who sent him Isaiah affirmeth Isa 48.16 and Paul putteth it out of doubt Act. 28.25 Thus one God distinguished into three Persons Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost hath one and the same glory and is one and the same Lord of Hosts in nature substance and essence though they are distinct from each other by their mutuall relations to each other the Father begetting the Sonne the Sonne being begotten of the Father and the Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne CHAP. V. Jah is a Name of God ascribed to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost JAh is a Name of God of the same signification and derivation with Jehovah it is not oft used in the Scriptures unlesse it be in Psalmes or Songs of Thanksgiving Sometime this Name is redoubled as Isa 38.11 I shall not see the Lord the Lord in the land of the living Sometime it is joyned to Jehovah as Isa 12.2 Isa 25.4 and sometimes with Elohim as Psal 68.19 Oft times it is joyned to Hallelu and so it is used in the beginning and ending of the five last Psalmes It should be the first and last our highest and chiefest end to glorifie Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Jah is not a proper Name of Christ incarnate as some imagine who say That Christ in his incarnation was Deus contractus when all the fullnesse of the God-head dwelt bodily in him Col. 2.9 as they say Jah is contracted of Jehovah for this Name is given First to the Father together with the Sonne and Holy-Ghost Exod. 15.2 The Lord is my strength and song Israel did acknowledge Jah to be their deliverer who delivered Israel out of Egypt and destroyed his and their enemies which I shall shew to be the workes of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Psal 35.3 4. Jah is praysed who made a Covenant with his people which was not onely the Father but also the Sonne and Holy-Ghost as I purpose to manifest Secondly the Sonne hath this Name ascribed to him Psal 68.4 which Psalme the Apostle by citing the eighteenth Verse sheweth belongeth to Christ And Psal 118.14 18 19. The Lord or Jah is my strength and the Lord hath chastened me sore and prayse the Lord which was Christ as out of the twentie and second Verse of that Psalme by being compared with 1 Pet. 2.4 Act. 4.11 Math. 21.42 Mar. 12.10 doth easily appeare Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost Psal 68.18 Thou receivest gifts from men for the rebellious also that the Lord or Jah God might dwell amongst them Or if you reade it according to the Apostles interpretation Ephes 4.8 gave gifts unto men It is both wayes a Prophesie of Christ who received the promise of the Holy-Ghost from his Father Act. 2.33 and did give him to his Church who also dwelleth in the faithfull Rom. 8.9 2 Tim. 1.14 Rom. 8.11 1 Cor. 3.16 Jam. 4.5 1 Cor. 6.19 1 Pet. 4.14 Oh that as prayse is in precept Psal 146.1 last Psal 147.1 last Psal 148. Psal 149. Psal 150. Psal 135. joyned to this word that it might be so likewise in our practise at the leastwise let it be our endevours to performe it Give prayse to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Prayse the Lord in his Name Jah CHAP. VI. Ehejeh or I am or I will be is a Name of God ascribed to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost EHejeh is a Name of God of the same signification and derivation with Jehovah it noteth unto us the eternitie and immutabilitie of God both in himselfe and in his Promises a Name which God is pleased to stile himselfe by Exod. 3.14 I am To this Name Christ alluding stileth himselfe I am Joh. 8.58 Joh. 8.28 Joh. 8.24 Joh. 13.19 Joh. 4.26 I shall shew not onely the Father but also the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be Ehejeh when as I treat of the worke of God in bringing Israel out of Egypt as he promised Exod. 3. who are one God of one essence and substance The Word being the Fathers owne Rom. 8.3 proper Rom. 3.32 begotten Heb. 5.5 Heb. 1.5 his onely begotten Son◠Joh. 3.16 18. Joh. 1.18 1 Joh. 4.9 And therefore of the same essence with him that begat him Neither is the Spirit differing in nature from the Father and the Sonne from whom he proceedeth and in whom they are no more then the spirit of man differeth in nature and essence from a man in whom he is 1 Cor. 2.11 CHAP. VII El is a Name of God ascribed to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost EL is a Name of God in regard of his Power which he hath in himselfe and which he giveth to all creatures This Name is ascribed First to the Father Thus Christ in the dayes of his flesh offering up prayers and supplications Heb. 5.7 to his Father stileth him El Mat. 27.46 Mar. 15.34 Eli Eli c. My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Secondly to the Sonne He is El Gibbor Isa 9.6 The mightie God a Name not communicable to a creature His name is Emmanuel Isa 7.14 Mat. 1.23 A Virgin shall conceive and beare a Sonne and shall call his Name Emmanuel And therefore he was borne of a woman after the manner of men that it might be manifested he was truly man And yet not borne of mans seed that he might be knowne to be not onely man but God also as his Name importeth Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost He hath said which hath heard the words of God which saw the vision of she Almightie falling into a traunce but having his eyes open Num. 24.4 He whose words Balaam heard was the Spirit of God Num. 24.2 He spake by him and in him and yet in the fourth and sixteenth Verses it was the words of El which he heard Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost having one and the same Name properly and definitively given to them in Scripture are one in Nature also CHAP. VIII Elohim or Eloah is a Name ascribed to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost ELohim is a Name of God attributed to him in regard of his Power and Almightinesse It is commonly used plurally and is oft joyned with Jehovah which is alwayes used singularly the one noting the unitie of the essence the other the pluralitie of Persons of this one God This Name the Lord challengeth and demandeth 〈◊〉 there any God beside me Isa 44.8 David acknowledgeth no God besides the Lord 1 Chron. 17.10 2 Sam. 7.22 Yet this excludeth neither of the three Persons of the blessed Trinitie from being God First the Father hath this Name Eloah given to him Psal 40.8 I delight to doe thy will O my God The Lord Jesus as man delighted to doe God his Fathers will both by active obedience in fulfilling the Law and by passive obedience in suffering and dying for our sinnes which
24.19 Hucedoshim Elohim which word for word is ipse Dii sancti we cannot significantly render it in English but we translate it he is a holy God where in the unitie of the essence there is a pluralitie of Holy Persons First the Father is holy Secondly the Sonne is holy Thirdly the Spirit is holy who are not three Gods but one holy God CHAP. XI The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are good GOodnesse is an essentiall propertie of God whereby he is every way good both in himselfe and towards all his creatures Psa 33.5 Psa 145.9 Psa 119.68 he is good and doth good The Lord is essentially absolutely immutably and perfectly good without any dependance on any other and without any limitation of his goodnesse The creature is good so farre as in the being thereof it agreeth with the will of the Creatour by participating of that goodnesse which God hath given it 1 Cor. 3.8 Jam. 1.17 There is not the least drop of goodnesse in man or Angel which it hath not from the Creatour God onely is essentially good and of himselfe and thus there is noâ—e good but one that is God Mat. 19 17. Mar. 10.18 Luk. 18.19 and as his essence is one so his goodness is one yet this one God being distinguished into three Persons every Person in the sacred Trinity is Good First the Father is good who sheweth the exceeding riches of his grace in his goodnesse towards us through Christ Eph. 2.7 Secondly the Sonne is good he is the good Shepheard that giveth his life for his sheepe Joh. 10.1 and knoweth his Sheepe and is known of them Joh. 10.14 Goodnesse is essentially in Christ as he is the Sonne of God for so he is equall with him Phil. 2.6 in Nature as also in goodnesse and all his Attributes But as he is the Sonne of Man he received his goodnesse Joh. 7.16 my Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is good he is the good Spirit Nehem. 9.20 Psal 143.10 Wis 12.1 yea that which Matthew calleth Mat. 7.11 good Luke rendreth it the Holy Spirit Luke 11.13 and the vulgar Translation joyning both together readeth it the good Spirit Yet Father Sonne and Holy Spirit though three Persons are but one good Lord God Mat. 19.17 CHAP. XII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are gracious THe Lord is infinitely gracious he is alone truly gracious Exod. 34.6 and that in and of himselfe he hath nothing to move him thereto but his owne will Exod. 33 19 Rom. 9.13 Jam. 1.18 John 1.13 Our salvation dâ—pendeth on his grace in regard of the beginning progresse and finishing of it we can no way enter into heaven or set forward one step in that way but as he helpeth us up by the scaling-Ladder of his owne graces to us in Christ and thus the Kingdome of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force Mat. 11.12 First the Father is infinitely gracious he is exceeding rich in grace Ephes 2.7 and according to the good pleasure of his will he enricheth us therewith to the praise of the glory of his grace Ephes 1.5 6. and we are to pray to him for grace so doth Paul Ephes 1.2 Tit. 1.4 and John Rev. 1.4 Secondly the Sonne is infinitely gracious 1 Tim. 1.16 He sheweth forth all long-suffering in Paul for a patterne for them which should hereafter beleeve From his fulnesse we receive grace for grace Joh. 1.16 He is a full Vessell his overflowings filleth all his members The Apostle telleth us of the unsearchable riches of Christ Eph. 5.8 2 Cor. 8.9 And Christ telleth Paul his grace is sufficient for him 2 Cor. 12.9 who giveth grace as he will Eph. 4.7 To whom we are to pray for grace So Paul 1 Cor. 16.23 Eph. 1.2 and John Rev. 1.5 2 Joh. 3. and Peter 2 Pet. 1.2 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is infinitely gracious He is the Spirit of grace Zach. 12.10 Heb. 10.29 Luk. 2.40 He is rich in grace giving his grace as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 The will of men and Angels are limited by their power they may will more then they can effect but the Power of the holy Spirit in giving grace and in all his workes is limited onely by his will Isa 40.13 1 Cor. 12.11 who giveth grace as he will To whom we are to pray for grace So doth Salomon Cant. 4.16 and John likewise Rev. 1.4 The Father the Word and the Spirit are one onely gracious Lord God CHAP. XIII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are the true God TRuth is one of Gods Attributes Exod 34.6 who in opposition to Idols is alwayes stiled the true God 2 Thess 1.9 the Stock being a doctrine of vanitie Jer. 10.8 and the Image a teacher of lyes Hab. 2.18 God is true in himselfe Joh. 17.3 and true in his promises to his Church and people Tit. 1.3 He cannot lye Heb. 6.18 It is impossible for him to be mutable He is the God that changeth not Mal. 3.6 For he is not as man that he should lye nor as the sonne of man that he should repent Num. 23.19 Let God therefore be true and every man a lyar Rom. 3.4 The best of Creatures even Angels have in regard of themselves a mutabilitie of nature some continued not in the truth Joh. 8.44 they kept not their first estate Jude 6. These he charged with folly Job 3.18 These that did continue did not stand through their owne strength but by vertue of Gods election of them who are therefore called the elect Angels of God 1 Tim. 5.21 But the Creature is subject to vanitie Rom. 8.21 No Creature is essentially absolutely independently true for so Truth is essentially proper to God who is first immutably true in himselfe secondly he is immutably true in respect of his gifts and graces which he bestoweth on his Church and people And thus first every Person of the Deitie is true in himselfe First the Father is true in himselfe Christ telleth the Jewes He that sent him is true Joh. 7.28 He is the onely true God Joh. 17.3 The word onely in that place restraineth not the Subject but the Predicate You have the word onely twice so used in one Verse Jer. 32.30 Againe he that beleeveth on the first Person onely excluding the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost beleeveth not rightly on the true God but is an Antichristian 1 Joh. 2.22 23. Secondly the Sonne is true in himselfe He with the Father and the Holy-Ghost is the true God 1 Joh. 5.20 where Christ is called the true God He is Truth 1 Joh. 14.6 It is one of his Names Rev. 3.7 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is true He is Truth 1 Joh. 5.6 1 Joh. 2.27 and therefore of the same essence with the Father and the Sonne who is the true God and is Truth Secondly all the three Persons are immutably true in their gifts and graces all the gifts of God being without repentance Rom. 11.29 First the Father
the Nations shall call him blessed Psal 72.17 so Paul Tit. 2.13 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is blessed Blessed be the glorie of the Lord from his place or as the Originall will beare it the blessed glorie of the Lord c. Ezek. 3.12 I know that some referre this place to Christ as spoken more peculiar of him others to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost but I rather think that acclamation to be given especially to the Holy-Ghost the Spirit of glorie 1 Pet. 4.14 whose Divine work on the Prophet is twice mentioned almost in the same words both immediately before and immediately after this acclamation Ezek. 3.12 13 14. Then the Spirit tooke me up and I heard behind me a voyce of a great rushing saying Blessed be the glorie of the Lord from his place I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another and the noise of the wheeles over-against them and a noise of a great rushing so the Spirit lifted me up Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are one and the same blessed Lord God though the Sonne hath his personalitie from the Father that begetteth him Heb. 1.5 and the Holy-Ghost hath his from the Father and the Sonne from whom he proceedeth Joh. 14.26 Joh. 15.26 yet the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God of themselves and have their blessednesse as being of one essence substance and nature with the Father of themselves even as the Father hath who are mutually in each other Prov. 8.30 the Father in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father Joh. 14.11 Joh. 10.38 and the Father and the Sonne are in the Spirit Zach. 7.12 and the Spirit in them 1 Cor. 2.11 even as the Spirit of of man is in man being most absolutely happy in action and contemplation To whom let us give praise and say with the Psalmist Blessed be the Lord God the God of Israel who onely doth wondrous things and blessed be his glorious Name for ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen Psal 72.18 19. The third Booke The Workes of GOD are equally wrought by FATHER SONNE and HOLY-GHOST The first Section CHAP. I. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Workes as are proper to God HE that worketh such Workes as God alone worketh is God equall with the Father in Power and Glory The Sonne and Holy-Ghost worke such Workes as God alone worketh Therefore the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father in Power and Glory The Workes of God are of two kinds First there is Opus ad intra vel personale the Personall Workes of God which are begun by and terminated in some Person of the Deitie as the generation of the Sonne by the Father and the procession of the Holy-Ghost from the Father and the Sonne these are simply personall Workes whereby the Persons are distinguished from each other These some call Workes of Relation Secondly there is Opus ad extra vel essentiale Essentiall Workes of God and they are such as are common Workes of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost and are terminated in the Creature where it is the Scriptures use to attribute these common Workes sometimes to one Person and sometimes to another whereby they hold forth unto us the Unitie both of Nature and of Working which is in the Trinitie of Persons These Essentiall Workes are undivided according to that knowne Axiome Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa None of them doth ought for us without all My Father worketh hitherto saith Christ and I worke Joh. 5.17 where as Châ—ysostome observeth He saith not My Father worketh and I subminister to him but he using the same word of the Father and of himselfe saith My Father worketh and I worke whatsoever things the Father doth the Sonne doth likewise Joh. 5.19 and so the Holy-Ghost who speaketh not of himselfe but whatsoever he shall heare that shall he speake Joh. 16.13 14. Hence every Person Worketh of himselfe according to that causall power which he exerciseth where there is not any preheminence nor difference in dignitie but an unitie and identitie of one and the same cause they having one Essence there is therefore one operation That therefore which the Father doth the Sonne doth and what the Father and the Sonne doe the Holy-Ghost likewise doth as I shall shew in these Outward Common and Essentiall actions Yet as there is a distinct order of subsisting so they have a distinct manner of working and they being three Persons they work in three distinct manners The Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne usually worketh from them both He shall receive of mine saith Christ and shew it unto you all things that the Father hath are mine Joh. 16.14 15. The Sonne having his personalitie from the Father usually worketh from the Father The Sonne doth nothing of himselfe but what he seeth the Father doe Joh. 5.17 Thus each Person Worketh according to the manner of his subsisting which manifesteth a diversitie of Persons but no difference or inequalitie of power For they Worke not as Instruments one to another but as Co-workers tanquam principium a principio as one Principle from another in regard of their Persons but as one and the same Principle in regard of their Essence where the Sonne in regard of his Essence he is God of himselfe and worketh of himselfe and so doth the Holy Ghost likewise But as the Sonne is begotten of the Father so he worketh from the Father These words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by and in which are oft-times found in Scripture to expresse the Personall working of the Sonne and Holy-Ghost yet are not so used as if the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost were subordinate Instruments to the Father but as one and the same efficient cause For these Prepositions you shall finde indifferently prefixed to the Works of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or by is used in respect of First the Father Gal. 1.1 Paul an Apostle not of men nor by men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father Eph. 1.1 Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God Col. 1.1 2 Tim. 1.1 yea the Father no Instrument of choosing Paul to be an Apostle but an efficient cause Jude saith Jude 1. we are sanctified by God the Father yet he is not the Instrument but the cause of our Sanctification And Christ is said to be raised up by God the Father Rom. 6.4 and God is faithfull by whom ye are called to the fellowship of his Sonne 1 Cor. 1.9 yet the Father is no Instrument but a cause of Christs Resurrection and of our Vocation Secondly the Sonne Joh. 1.3 Heb. 1.2 Col. 1.16 Eph. 3.9 Gal. 1.1 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Act. 11.28 1 Cor. 12.3 yet in none of these places is it
God alone did send the Prophets and Apostles to his Church so for the good of the Church he did strengthen the Apostles and Prophets in their callings he made Ezekiels face strong against his enemies faces and his forehead strong against their foreheads Ezek. 3.8 yea he telleth Jeremiah that he had made him a defenced Citie an Iron pillar and brazen walls against the Land All the calumnies and oppositions which they shot at him could not pierce him to hurt him they might and did fight against him but they should not they could not prevaile against him For I am with thee saith the Lord to deliver thee Jerem. 1.18.19 This worke is Essentiall and it is common to all three Persons First the Father strengthened them he strengthened Paul and Timothy 2 Cor. 1.21 and therefore they give thanks to him for his mercie and comfort 2 Cor. 1.3 4. Secondly the Sonne strengthened them So he promiseth to give his Disciples a mouth and wisedome which all their Adversaries should not gainsay nor resist Luk. 21.15 he enabled Paul to the Ministerie 1 Tim. 1.12 yea so great was his strength in Paul that the Apostle telleth you he is able to doe all things through Christ that strengthened him Phil. 4.13 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost strengtheneth them Micha telleth you he is full of power by the Spirit of the Lord Mich. 3.8 he it was that taught the Apostles how to answer their opposers Mat. 10.19 20. as also what to say when they were questioned Luk. 12.12 and indeed all Stevens Enemies were not able to resist the wisedome and the Spirit by which he spake Act. 6.10 The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have the same operation and the same naturall power and are therefore of the same Essence for the equalitie of power is from the equality of Nature in them CHAP. X. The sending of Pastors and Teachers unto the Church is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost PAstors and Teachers are appointed of God 1 Cor. 12.28 And therefore they are stiled men of God 2 Tim. 3.17 No man may preach the Word but he that is sent Rom. 10.15 This sending of Pastors and Teachers into the Church is a Worke of God Jer. 3.15 Jer. 23.4 and it is Essentiall and common to all three Persons First the Father appointeth Pastors and Teachers in the Ghurch 1 Cor. 12.28 Whether you take God there either Essentially for the Trinity or Personally for the Father it will follow that God the Father setteth Teachers in the Church Secondly the Sonne giveth Pastors and Teachers in the Ghurch Eph. 4.11 He namely Christ gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers Moreover they that are faithfull in this Office are his Ministers Col. 1.7 1 Tim. 4.6 his Embassadours 2 Cor. 5.20 his Stewards 1 Cor. 4.1 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost appointeth Ministers and Elders and therefore Paul chargeth the Elders of Ephesus Act. 20.17 to take heed to the flock of God over which the Holy-Ghost hath made them Overseerâ— Act. 20.28 The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are one and the same God there being one and the same action and Authoritie of them in sending Pastors and Teachers into the Church CHAP. XI The giving Lawes to the Church is a Work of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost AS the Lord alone doth appoint Officers to Teach and to Rule in his Church so he onely appointeth Lawes by which his Church must be ordered and guided There is but one Law-giver Jam. 4.12 whose Lawes alone bind the Conscience yet he is distinguished into three Persons First the Father giveth Commandements to his Church Thus John telleth the Elect Lady 2 Joh. 4. I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in the truth as I received Commandement from the Father Secondly the Sonne giveth Commandements to his Church Thus the Lord Jesus telleth his Apostles A new Commandement give I unto you Joh. 13.14 not new in matter but new in forme we were by Moses commanded to love our Neighbour as our selves but by the Lord Christ we are commanded to love one another as he hath loved us yea he telleth his Disciples Ye are my friends if ye doe whatsoever I command you Joh. 15.14 and Paul willeth the Galathians to love one another and so fulfill the Law of Christ Gal. 6.2 the Law of God being the Law of Christ 1 Cor. 9.21 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth Lawes to his Church and therefore the Apostles in their decrees which they send to the Churches of the Gentiles say Act. 15.28 It seemed good to the Holy-Ghost and to us to lay on you no greater burthen then these necessary things Had this holy Assembly forgotten to mention God as the Author of these Lawes and rest wholly on a Creatures inspiration as some blasphemously imagine the Holy-Ghost to be Surely if the Holy-Ghost were not God he had no Authoritie to prescribe Lawes as necessary to the Church of God Gal. 1.8 yea Paul saith If any man thinke himselfe to be a Prophet or Spirituall let him acknowledge the things that I write are the Commandements of the Lord 1 Cor. 12.37 as if he had said if there be a Prophet amonâ—st you inspired by the Holy-Ghost he will acknowledge the things that I write I write by the inspiration of the Holy-Ghost Thus you may see the giving of Lawes to the Church is an Essentiall Worke of God common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost who although they be three Persons or Subsistences yet there is in them but one Substance Nature or Essence CHAP. XII The giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was the Worke of the Father the Word and the Spirit AS the giving of other Lawes to the Church was a Worke of God so more particularly the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai was his Worke It was wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost It was Jehovah Elohim Exod. 20.2 Deut. 5.6 one Gâ—d in three Persons that spake to Moses First the Father gave the Law to Moses and therefore Christ telleth the Jewes that Moses accused them to his Father Joh. 5.45 The Law which Moses had from the Father did accuse them as breakers of that Law to the Father Secondly the Sonne gave this Law to Moses He it was that spake in Mount Sinai Act. 7.38 38. called there an Angel but he was the Angel of the Covenant which is Jehovah Exod. 19.9 20 21 22 23 24. the Israelites desire not to heare the voyce of God Deut. 5.25 which the Apostle expoundeth Heb. 12.19 that the word may not be set before them and he it was that spake from heaven Heb. 12.25 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost gave these Lawes to Moses This the Apostle intimateth Heb. 9.8 for he giving the interpretation of some Lawes he prefixeth this the Holy-Ghost this signifying c. as if he had said this is the interpretation of those Lawes the Holy-Ghost gave
2 Tim. 3.16 Eph. 3.5 he made this weapon for our use Secondly the Spirit of God directeth us how to use this Weapon and helpeth our infirmities Rom. 8.26 so that through him the weapons of our warfare are mighty to the pulling down of strong holds 2 Cor. 1.9 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doe comfort us against the assaults of Satan and deliver us from his power For the Lord Jesus who was our surety Heb. 7.22 gave himselfe a raâ—some for us Mat. 20.28 1 Tim. 2.6 and thereby hath satisfied the justice of God Isa 53.5 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Joh. 2.2 the dâ—bt that we owed is paid by him Isa 53.6 the obligation is cancelled the hand-writing of Ordinances that was against us is blotted out Col. 2.14 the Work of our redemption is thereby finished Joh. 19.30 Gods justice being satisfied we are delivered from Satan Luk. 11.21 22. Heb. 2.14 15. who is but Gods Jaylor Luk. 12.58 and who del vered us into his hand Mat. 18.34 Till his justice was satisfied and the debt that we owed was discharged by Christ which being performed by him we are redeemed out of the hands of all our enemies Luk. 1.71.74 CHAP. V. 3. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost redeeme us from eternall destruction of body and soule THe Lord is especially our Redeemer in delivering our soules from destruction Psal 103.4 Zachariah blesseth the Lord God of Israel for visiting and redeeming his people Luk. 1.68 which was not onely the Father or the Sonne but the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost as I have shewed First the Father redeemeth us he delivereth us from the power of darknesse and translateth us to the Kingdome of his deare Sonne Col. 1.13 Secondly the Sonne redeemeth us He is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the World Joh. 1.29 that burthen of sinne that did lye heavie on us he took and caried for us Isa 53.4 Isa 53.11 12. 1 Pet. 2.24 he is our Goel or kinsman Joh. 19.25 which did the part of a kinsman for us in redeeming us and our heavenly inheritance to us as it was figured Levi. 25.25 and foretold Hos 13.14 he redeemed us by giving himselfe for us Tit. 2.14 Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.18 Eph. 5.2 Isa 53.5 6 8 10. Eph. 1.7 Col. 1.14 he hath washed us with his bloud Rev. 1.3 Rev. 5.2 1 Joh. 1.7 Heb. 9.14 he became our surety Heb. 7.22 and gave himsâ—lf a ransome for us Mark 10.45 1 Tim. 2.6 As God he did redeeme us by his power but as man he purchased our redemption by his merits actively fulfilling the Law for us Rom. 5.18 19. Heb. 7.26 2 Cor. 5.21 and passiveâ—y suffâ—ring for us the punishments due to the transgressours of the Law Gal. 3.13 Rom. 3.24 25. who as God and man is the Saviour of his Church Eph. 5.23 and people Mat. 1.21 delivering us from the wrath to come 2 Thes 2.10 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost redeemeth us He is the earnest and seale of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchâ—sâ—d possession to the praise of his glory Eph. 1.13 14. yea the Spirit promiseth to them that overcome that they shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2.11 The Father the Word and the Spirit are equall in glory and power and are one and the same first cause of our Redemptioâ— which was inchoatively the worke of the Trinity Although terminatively it was perfected and consummated by the Sonne of God to whose Person humane Nâ—ture was united Joh. 1.14 So that two whole perfect and distinct Natures the God-head and the Man-hood were joyned together in one Person especially without either Conversion Composition or confusion of either which though he had two Natures yet he is but one Christ God and man the onely Mediatour between God and us 1 Tim. 2.5 and is the next and immediate principle of our Redemption and he as our high Priest once offered up himselfe Heb. 7.27 for our sinnes Heb. 10.12 as a Lambe without blemish and without spot 1 Pet. 1.19 CHAP. VI. Justification is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost and that first in regard of the remission of our sinnes or healing of our soule-sicknesse JUstification hath two parts which as Tilenus observeth differ not essentially but rationally Rom. 4.6 There is first a remission of sinnes or healing of our soules secondly an imputation of the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ First the Lord alone forgiveth sinnes He alone is the Physician that can cure all the maladies of our sin-sick souls he challengeth this as his owne prerogative I even I 〈◊〉 he thaâ— bâ—oâ—teth out thy transgressionâ— for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes Esa 43.25 Sinne is onely committed against God Psal 51.5 Hee onely therefore can remit it And surely when he hath remittâ—d it who can lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect â—or it is God that justifieth who shall condemne it is Christ that dyed Rom. 8.33 34. The words the Apostle useth are remarkable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to call into court Satan may wranglingly dispute against thy soul thy conscience may erroneously accuse thee the Law 〈◊〉 produce cancelled Bills against thee but none of these shall hurt thee that hath an interest in Christ who hath satisfied Gods justice for thee And therefore Secondly the Apostle opposeth the death of Christ by way of challenge to whatsoever Sinne Satan Justice or Law can object when he saith not Who shall accuse for we may have accusers enough but Who shall condâ—mn it is Christ that died The Psalmist may well conclude him to be blessed to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne Psal 32.2 If the Scribes and Pharisees had not maliciously erred in the person they had concluded well in the thing None can fo give sinnes but God onely Marke 2.7 Luke 5.21 For if man could do this then he could brâ— g a cleane thing out of an uncleane which none can do Joâ— 14.4 but God onely He alone can heale our back-slidings Hos 14.4 which is nothing else but a forgivenesse of sinnes Marke calleth that a forgiving of sinnes Marke 4.12 which say and Paul do call a healing of them Esay 6.10 Act. 28.25 27. And surely forgivenesse of sins or healing of the soule is a worke of God Esay 44.22 Psal 103.3 2 Chron. 30.20 Psal 147.3 Psal 41.5 wrought by the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost First the Father forgiveth sins Matth. 6.14 Marke 11.25 If ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you And thus Christ as man prayed to his Father for his Enemies Father forgive them they know not what they do Luke 23.34 Moreover healing the soule is the worke of the Father Esa 6.10 with Mat. 13.15 for he sent Esaiah Esa 48.16 as I have shewed Secondly the Son forgiveth sinnes so he saith to Mary Luke 7.48 Thy sinnes be forgiven thee and so likewise he told the sick of the Palsie Marke 2.
that God dwelleth in him and he through Christ in him And there is no wonder that the Lord bestoweth this and all other mercies on his soule when as it pleaseth him to adopt him to himselfe to be his sonne which also is a worke of God CHAP. XII Adoption is a worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost ADoption is a work proper to God He alone adopteth children to himselfe who both can and will and also doth make them Heires of God even joynt Heires with Christ in Glory Rom. 8.17 Which grace of adoption is the undivided worke of one God in three Persons who as he is our Father so we are his children by adoption who of his owne will begat us Jam. 1.18 we being begotten by counsell and not by nature â—or so the Lord Jesus is the onely begotten Son of the Father â—oh 3.16 18. Joh. 1.14 18. 1 Joh. 4.9 the Father being his proper Father Joh. 5.18 and he his proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 First the Father adopteth us He hath predestinated us to the adoption of children by Christ Eph. 1.5 It is our everlasting happinesse that we are so neerly admitted into the presence of God that his onely Sonne standeth betwixt us and him and that the Lord Jesus calleth us his brethren Heb. 2.11 by the Fathers choice of us in him Secondly the Sonne adopteth us As many as received him he gave power to become the Sonnes of God even to them as believe in his name John 1.12 Thirdly The Holy-Ghost adopteth us and therefore he is called the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.15 He it is that maketh us children of God Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit nf God they are the Sonnes of God The Spirit leading us as a Father leadeth his childe Adoption therefore is a worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost being stiled our Father as in the Lords Prayer where the name Father is not taken personally but essentially namely for one God distinguished into three persons And surely the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have this Name Father ascribed to them in Scripture as I have shewed and they are with the first Person a Father to us not onely in regard of Adoption but also in regard of Regeneration or Sanctification as I shall shew CHAP. XIII Sanctification is a worke of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost SAnctification which in Scripture is sometimes called Regeneration Renovation Conversion Repentance New Life New obedience c. is the Worke of God Joh. 1.13 If to create man be in the power of God alone then surely to re-create him is in his power onely For the former is called the worke of Gods fingers Psal 8. but the latter is ascribed to the strength of hiâ— armes Luke 1. And surely none is able to repaire the depravations of nature but the God of nature He it is that taketh from us our hearts of stone and giveth unto us an heart of flesh Ezek. 11.19 Ezek. 36 26. The Lord challengeth it as his worke I am the Lord that sanctifie you Levit. 20.8 Paul prayeth to God to effect this grace throughly in the Thessalonians 1 Thâ—ss 5.23 He giveth men repentance 2 Tim. 2.25 He quickneth those thae are dead in trespasses and in sinnes Eph. 2.1 5. He bringeth to the birth and he bringeth forth Esa 66.9 He saith to them which lye weltring in the blood of their naturall unclâ—annesse Live Ez k. 16. Secondly they that are sanctified are the children of God Joh. 1.12 13. borne of the Spirit John 3.5 and borne of God 1 Joh. 3.9 Although the Scripture usually ascribeth sanctification to the Holy-Ghost who doth peculiarly terminate this worke yet it is not to excludâ— the Father and the Sonne from it First the Father sanctifieth us Joh. 17.17 The Lord Jesus prayeth to his Father to sanctifie his Disciples noâ— onely to the office of an Apostleship but to a fuller me sure of grace as 1 Thess 5.23 The Father begetteâ—h us agâ—ine to a lively hope 1 Pet 1.3 He maketh us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 which is done by sanctification For without holiâ—esse no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 The Lord will have none to dwell with him in happinesse which will not h ve him to dwell with them in holinesse Yea Jude â—leerly manifesteth Jude 1. that we are sanctsfied by God the Father Secondly The Sonne sanctifieth us If he wash not us we have no part in him Joh. 13.8 we are sanctified in him 1 Cor. 6.11 1 Cor. 1.2 He sanctifieth and cleanseth his Church Eph. 5.26 Mal. 3.2 He is to them as a refiners fire to try them and not as a consuming fire to dâ—stroy them He purifieth to himself a peculiar people zealous of good workes Tit. 2.14 they being a peculiar people to him must yeeld peculiar obedience to him He presenteth us holy and blamelesse Col. 1.22 He that sanctifieth saith the Apostle Heb. 2.11 and they that are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren The Lord Jesus sanctifieth us two wayes First as God equall with the Father so he sanctifieth by the power of his Deity even by faith in him Acts 26.18 Secondly as he is God and man our Redeemer so he sanctifieth us by the merits of his humanity Heb. 9.9 10 14. Heb. 10.10 washing us with his blood 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sanctifieth us 1 Peter 1.2 2 Thess 2.13 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 15.16 For which cause all the graces in us are called the fruits of the Spirit Eph. 5.9 Gal. 5.22 we are borne againe of the Spirit John 3.6 8. For as Christ the head was conceived by the Holy Ghost Matth 1.18 so the mysticall Body of Christ is regenerated and borne againe of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 and renewed of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 We are changed into the Image of the Lord by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 who is the Spirit of holinesse Rom. 1.4 who is holy in himselfe and also worketh holinesse in us gradually cleansing us from all impurity Things are purified two wayes from naturall corruptions first by fire secondly by water And thus in the Leviticall Law things legally uncleane were lâ—gally purified Num. 21.33 And surely the Holy-Ghost in regard of his cleansing us from spirituall corruptions is usually compared to these two Elements first to fire as Mark. 9.49 Matth. 3.11 Secondly to water as Eze. 36.25 with 27. 1 Cor. 6.11 Esa 44.3 Joel 2.28 Sanctification is thetefore an essentiall worke of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost which is signified to us in our Baptisme being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost Mat. 28.19 We are washed therefore and cleansed from sinne by the joynt yet undivided worke of the three persons of one Essence who are not divided in working
soule-comforting graces that are therein First the Father witnesseth it to us he sendeth forth his Spirit into our hearts whereby we cry Abba Father Gal. 4.6 Secondly the Sonne witnesseth it to us he is the true and faithfull witnesse Rev. 3.16 Rev. 1.5 he witnesseth in us our salvation 1 Cor. 1.6 and testifyeth to us the comfort that are in his word Thirdly the Holy-Ghost witnesseth it to us he beareth witnesse with our spirits that we aâ—e the Children of God Rom. 8.16 There is three that beare record in heaven which doe not onely testifie Christ to be the Messiah or Saviour of the world but also to be our Messiah and Saviour the Father the Word and the Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 one God one witnesse Yea our Saviour Christ speaketh of this testimony plurally Joh. 3.11 we speake that we doe know and testifie that we have seene and ye receive not our witnesse a place not to be paralelld in the Evangelists where our Saviour speaketh plurally not in the name of John Baptist or the Prophets for their authority could no way adde to his neither did he receive testimony from man Joh. 5.34 where he spake it most peculiarly in regard of John Joh. 5.33 but he spake in his Fathers name and also in the Holy Spirits name whose testimony and authority he oft urged Joh. 5.32 Joh. 8.18 Luk. 4.18 19. and surely if Angel or Archangel or any Creature in heaven or in earth should onely witnesse our salvation to â—s in Christ we might then doubt but why should we doubt when the Lord himselfe witnesseth it First by word calling us in Scriptures his Children Secondly by deeds working in us grace which are the fruits of his spirit Gal. 5.22 and Thirdly by seale as I shall now shew ratifying it to our soules Eph. 1.13 CHAP. XVIII Sealing of us is a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost FIrst sealing is a note of appropriation we worke that which is our own and that which we have confirmed and sealed we doe account it our own now these whom the Lord chooseth to himselfe he sealeth The Lord knoweth who are his having this seale 2 Tim 2.9 Secondly sealing is a signe of distinction Lawyers cause seales to be put to Evidences Merchants set markes on their wares and Shepheards have brands for their sheep to know and distinguish them Thus Christ in a peculiar manner is sealed of God the Father Joh 6.27 and all the Elect are sealâ—d in him Eph. 1.4 Thirdly sealing is a worke of conforming There is a likenesse of the seale imprinted on the thing sealed and surely when the childe of God is sealed of God there is then an Image of God wrought on his soule God therefore sealeth us First to appropriate us as his own Secondly to distinguish us from others Thirdly to conforme us to his own Image which worke of sealing us is wrought by one God in three Persons First God the Father sealeth us so the Apostle sheweth Eph. 1.13 2 Cor. 1.22 Secondly the Sonne sealeth us Ezek. 9.3 4. He is the Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 that hath the seale of the living God Rev. 7.2 who though an Angel by name yet is he not an Angel but a Sonne by nature Heb 2.16 Heb. 1.3 to 13. where the Apostle distinguisheth the creating Sonne from the created Angels plainly proving the Sonne to be the Creatour but Angels to be but creatures Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sealeth us Grieve not the Holy spirit of God by which we are sealed to the day of redemption Eph. 4.30 where the Apostle meeteth with two contrary errours First the Righteous after their calling may fall into sinne and so grieve the spirit God yet Secondly they cannot fall totally and finally for they are sealed by the spirit of God to the day of redemption Sealing of us therefore is the Worke of one God who is one in Power Will and Operation who sealeth his Children in their hearts confirming them thereby to his own Image and also sealing them in their foreheads imboldening them to professe him By the former he maketh us to love him by the latter he causeth us to acknowledge him CHAP. XIX Christian Libertie is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost BEing Redeemed Justified Adopted and Sanctified and sealed by God we have the glorious Liberty of the children of God We that were Bondmen by nature Tit. 3.3 Eph. 2.2 3. become the Lords freemen through gtace 1 Cor. 7.22 Lawyers tell us that if any Lord of a Mannor doe contract with his Villain 〈◊〉 is by that Act of his Lords dâ—livâ—â—â—â—â— from his most slavish tenure of Villenage and made free thereby surely the Lord our God condescending so low as to covenant with us in Christ he doth thereby free us from that slavish tenure we held by since Adams fall and maketh us therewith free Denizens of Heaven fellow-Citizens of the Saints and of the houshold of God Eph. 2.19 we are freed from sinne Rom. 6.22 Rom. 6.14 Rom. 8.33 we are set at libertie from Satan Heb. 2.14 15. Luk. 11.21 22. from the Law Rom. 7.3 6. Gal. 5.18 Rom. 6.18 from it's curses and maledictions Gal. 3.13 from it's condemnation Rom. 8.1 and from its rigour Gal. 3.10 there was Personall Universall Actuall and Constant obedience required in every title which left no place of repentance Repentance being an Evangelicall grace the proper priviledge of the covenant of grace Christ came from heaven to publish it Luk. 5.31 32. Mat. 4.17 he shed his bloud to purchase it Act. 5.31 he bids his Disciples to preach it Luk. 24.47 and surely therefore it cannot be legall the apostatizing Angels had not the benefit of it nor man till Christ had purchased it Christ hath freed us from this rigour of the Law and from the wrath of God Rom. 5.9 1 Thes 1.10 This Worke is a Worke of God none could effect it But First the Father procureth us Liberty He delivereth us from captivity Paul giveth thanks to God for it Rom. 7.24 25. where God is taken Essentially and not Personally for the Sonne and Holy-Ghost free us from our slavish captivity together with the Father Secondly the Sonne procureth us Liberty Gal. 5.1 Stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free There are two things which the Lord hath entrusted in his Churches hand First christian faith for which we must earnestly contend Jude ver 3. Secondly christian Liberty in which we must stand fast The Apostle calleth it the Libertie we have in Christ Gal. 2.4 which is Christian liberty not onely because we must use it to the glory of Christ and according to his rules but because he is the Author of it If the Sonne make you free then are you free indeed Joh. 8.36 he delivereth us who through feare of death were all our lifetime subject to bondage Heb. 2.15 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth us liberty 2
Cor. 3.15 where the Spirit of the Lord is theâ—e is liberty David calleth the Holy-Ghost the free Spirit Psal 51.12 First because he worketh freely in us 1 Cor. 12.11 Secondly because he worketh freedome in us and for us and therefore the Apostle telleth us The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ hath made us free from the law of sinne and death Rom. 8.2 It is manifest Christian liberty is a worke of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who worke this worke in us and for us God loosing us from all bondage that we may serve him Luk. 1.74 and delivereth us from the slavery of our enemies to tye us more firmly to his service CHAP. XX. Salvation or Glorification is a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost SAlvation or Glorification is the worke of God alone I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Isai 41.11 Isa 43.23 he saveth us 1 Tim. 1.9 he giveth us eternall life Rom. 6. last Eph. 2.8 First the Father saveth us so he promiseth Hos 1.7 I will save them by the Lord their God Here are two Persons stiled Jehovah First the Father promiseth to save Israel Secondly the Sonne by whom this deliverance is wrought and Israel is saved And the Lord Jesus telleth us John 10.29 None can pluck his sheep out of his Fathers hands Intimating thereby that he will preserve them to that Kingdome which he hath prepared for them Matth. 25.34 and according to his good pleasure giveth them it Luke 12.32 And to this end out of his love to us was it that he gave his onely begotten Sonne for us John 3.16 yea even for his little ones those who are little in their own eyes through humility little in the eyes of others through contempt yet it is not his will that any one of these little ones should perish Matth. 18.14 Secondly the Sonne saveth us John 6.33 He giveth life to the world So the Father promiseth Hos 1.7 and he himselfe affirmeth that he will give them that are faithfull to death a Crown of life Rev. 2.10 He giveth his sheep eternall life John 10.28 It is his mercy we must look for unto eternall life Jude ver 21. It is his Name by which we are saved Act. 4.12 There is no other Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved According to the merit of our salvation Christ Jesus is alone But according to the efficacy and application of it it is common to him with the Father and the Holy-Ghost Thirdly the Holy-Ghost saveth us He is the Spirit of life Rom. 8. that giveth life to us we being saved by the renewing of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 who promiseth to give to them that overcome to eate of the tree of life Rev. 2.7 and that they shall not be hurt of the second death Rev. 2.12 Thus these Actions and Works of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are their joynt and undividâ—d Works because there is not in God a divided or multiplyed Essence but one and the same divine Essence it being the same God which worketh all in all 1 Cor. 12.6 The unity of whose working dependeth on the unity of their power That therefore which the Scripture ascribeth to one Person of the Godhead it ascribeth sometimes to another As in the seven Epistles to the Churches in Asia the Sonne in the beginning is described as the Author of them yet in the conclusion we must here what is spoken as spoken by the Spirit of the seven Churches Rev. 2. Rev. 3. Again the gifs that are given to the seven Churches some times the Spirit doth promise them as to Ephesus Rev 2.7 to Smyrna Rev. 2.11 to Pergamus Rev. 2.17 and sometimes Jesus Christ promiseth them as to Thyatyra Rev. 2.28 to Sardis Rev. 3.5 to Phyladelphia Rev. 3.12 to Laodicea Rev. 3.21 Though therfore the Scripture in setting down the graces doth usually ascribe them to the Father in the Sonne and by the Spirit Ephes 1.4 5. 1 Cor. 6.10 Tit. 3.4 5. This order of dispensation holdeth forth unto us a distinction of persons onely and no division of Essence It sheweth an order in which they worke no inequality in regard of their Nature Essence and Substance which is one their Majesty Power and Glory is one though in respect of the distinction of Persons they are Relatives and therefore so are not one but are thus co-equall and co-eternall Oh that we would look into the Glasse of Gods Word then might we see cleerely how the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe worke in all their Works in us and for us Oh what unspeakable comfort would this work in our soules to praisâ— God for his mercies And Oh what soule-comforting matter would this yeild to stirre up our Brethren to praise the Lord for his mercies there might we say one to another Come and heare all ye that feare God and I will tell you what he hath done for my soule Psal 66.16 then might we sing praise one with another saying Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting and let all the people say Amen Praise ye the Lord Psal 106.48 The fourth Booke Divine Honour is given to FATHER SONNE and HOLY-GHOST CHAP. I. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Honour and religious worship as is due to God onely THEY who have the same Honour or religious Worship given truly to them which is given to the Father are God equall with the Father But the Sonne and Holy-Ghost have the same honour given truly unto them as is given to the Father Therefore the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father I shall first cleare the major though undeniably true and then shew the truth of the minor in divers particulars The Lord is a jealous God Exod. 20.4 As a King of his Church he will not endure a partner in his throne or as a Husband of her he will not away with a Rivall in his bed He will not give his Glory to another nor his praise to Graven Images Isai 42.8 We are to worship the Lord and to doe service to him onely Mat. 4.8 we are not to doe service to any that is not a God by Nature Gal. 4.8 The Apostle blamed the Heathen for this sinne much more it is blame-worthy in Christians He may winke at grosse Idolatries in them Act. 17.30 which he will not pardon in his owne people Amos 3.2 The Lord knew Israel by his mercies and he will make Israel know by his judgements what it is to sinne against him If therefore the Heathenish Galathians may not doe service to them that are not Gods by Nature much more may not Christians give this honour unto him who is not a God by Nature Where the distinction inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will not serve the true for he reproveth them
my Lord Mat. 21.44 Mar. 11.36 Luk. 20.42 Act. 2.32 doe ascribe this Name Lord to the Father and to the Sonne Secondly the Sonne is Lord. He was so proclaimed by Angelicall Heralds By Gabriel an Angel of the Lord before his incarnation Luk. 1.17 By another Angel to the Shepheards at his birth Luk. 2.11 where there is no lesse then a whole Chore of this heavenly Host ascribe glory to God and sing an heavenly Hymne to his Majestie He is likewise acknowledged so by Zacharie Luk. 1.76 by Elizabeth Luk. 1.43 by John Baptist Joh. 1.23 Luk. 3.4 and that from a testimonie of the Prophet Isaiah which did prophetically proclaime him Jehovah Isa 40.3 By Peter he is stiled Lord of all Act. 10.36 But why doe I instance in more Seeing that the holy Writers of the New Testament doe five hundred times at the least as some more punctually have observed ascribe this Name to Christ Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is Lord 2 Cor. 3.17 Now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is libertie There the Holy-Ghost is stiled Lord and the Spirit of the Lord. He is Lord of the same essence with the Father and the Sonne and yet the Spirit of the Lord as he proceedeth from them both And the next Verse may be read The Spirit of the Lord or the Lord the Spirit which divers reading the new Translation according to the Originall noteth in the Margent Againe the Apostle in his prayer as I shall more fully shew hereafter directed to the Holy-Ghost stileth him Lord 1 Thess 3.12 2 Thess 3.5 Mathew likewise affirmeth that to be spoken of the Lord by the Prophets Mat. 1.22 which Peter affirmeth to be spoken of thâ— Holy-Ghost by the Prophets 2 Pet. 1.21 Although therefore the Apostle saith there is but one Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 Eph. 4.5 and Jude calleth him the onely Lord Jude 4. yet neither the Apostle Paul nor the Apostle Jude excludeth the Father and the Holy-Ghost from being Lord but they include them in the same Unitie of the Essence being equall in Power Majestie and Glorie and are all the onely Lord though they be distinguished in their Persons yet the Unitie and the Essence of their divine Nature and Power is not divided CHAP. XIII Father is a Name of God common to all three Persons though usually ascribed to the first FAther is a Nanie we properly ascribe to the Lord first in regard of his Creation of Men and Angels Luk. 3. last Job 38.7 secondly in regard of his gubernation of the World Mat. 6.32 thirdly in regard of his Regeneration of his Church and People Isa 64.8 Deut. 32.6 who is the cause of the being of all Creatures and the well-being of his Church though analogically and improperly it is given to these who are under God the instruments of our being Eph. 6.2 4. Col. 3.21 yet not properly are they to be esteemed Fathers as God is Mat. 23.9 who is our heavenly Father Mat. 6.9 Mat. 5.48 where the word Father is not to be restrained to the first Person as it is when either all three Persons are expressed as Eph. 2.18 Mat. 28.19 1 Joh. 5.7 Gal. 4.6 or when the first Person is conferred with the second Gal. 1.3 2 Cor. 1.3 Col. 1.3 but it is to be understood essentially of the Father the Word and the Spirit Yea the Name Father is not onely essentially communicated to all three Persons but also Personally ascribed in respect of us either to First the first Person who is not onely the Father of Christ but also in him our Father Joh. 20.17 I ascend saith Christ to my Father and your Father to my God and your God which diminisheth not much lesse doth it take away Christs Divinitie but sheweth the order that is in the three Persons The Father who is first in order and not in time is usually called by Divines Fons Divinitatis Operationis the Fountaine of Divinitie and Operations yet their Divine Oeconomie doth not shew any inequalitie in Persons but their order in working And againe Joh. 17.1 These things spake Jesus and lift up his eyes to heaven and said Father the houre is came c. God is Christs Father after a more excellent manner then he is called our Father He is his Sonne or the Fathers Sonne of himselfe Rom. 8.3 his owne Sonne or proper Sonne Rom. 8.32 his onely begotten Sonne Joh. 1.14 18. Joh. 3.16 18. as I have shewed And Indeed Christ is an onely begotten Sonne first according to hâ—s Divine Personalitie he was begotten of his Father onely secondly in regard of his humane nature he was his mothers onely begotten he came from her onely thirdly in regard of both he was an onely Sonne he having no Brother fourthly because all that the Father hath is his Joh. 16.15 But we are in and through him Children by Creation Regeneration and Adoption He is a Sonne by nature we by counsell Jam. 1.18 Joh. 1.13 And surely were there no other argument to prove the equality of nature of the Father and of the Sonne this were sufficient to prove it because he is the Fathers proper Sonne the Sonne of his owne selfe his begotten Sonne his onely begotten Sonne For he that is God cannot properly beget any other but him that is God Secondly the second Person who although a Sonne eternally begotten of his Father and so not a Father in respect of God yet to us he is an everlasting Father Isa 9.6 and we are his children by adoption and regeneration Heb. 2.13 Joh. 1 12. who may say haply with the Apostle complaining of his former wretchednesse we were as men borne out of duo time 1 Cor. 15.8 Thirdly The Holy-Ghost is our Father He together with the Father and the Sonne createth regenerateth and adopteth We are by regeneration begotten of God 1 Joh. 5.18 And borne of the Spirit John 3.6 8. we are his Children Psal 34.10 and are taught of God John 6.45 And therefore the Lord Jesus being to send the Holy-Ghost who should teach them all things John 14.26 saith he will not leave them Orphans John 14.16 Plainely shewing the Holy-Ghost should be their Father Yea so the Holy-Ghost promiseth 2 Cor. 6.16 18. I will be a Father to you and ye shall be my Sonnes and Daughters That he which maketh this promise to us is the holy Spirit appeareth out of the former verses For we are to him that maketh this promise to us Temples and he it is that dwelleth in us Now it is manifest we are Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 and he dwelleth in us 1 Cor. 3.16 Though these be three subsistences or Persons yee they be one in essence substance or nature and to us one Father Mal. 2.10 O Lord thou art our Father saith the Church of God Isa 63.17 That this was spoken of all the three Persons is manifest out of the fore-going verses 1. There was the Father who led them and put
Heb. 5.5 who was called of God an high Priest after the Order of Melchizedeck Heb. 5.10 where it is observeable that Christ as man is said to be a Priest after the Order of Melchizedeck Heb. 5.6 10. Heb. 6.20 Heb. 7.17 but as Christ was the Sonne of God so Melchizedeck is said to be made like unto him a Priest continually Heb. 7.3 Secondly the Sonne of God made himselfe of no reputation Phil. 2.7 He voluntarily undertooke this Office for so he testified For this cause came I into the World that I should beare witnesse unto the Truth Joh. 18.37 Loe I come to doe thy will O God Heb. 10.8 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sent him He was led by the Spirit into the Wildernesse Luk. 4.1 and returned in the power of the Spirit unto Galilee Luk. 4.14 and was sent by the Spirit to preach the Gospell to the poore and anointed by him with gifts without measure Luk. 4.18 Act. 10.38 Thus there is one inseparable and undivided Working of the Father the Sonne and Holy-Ghost as there is one insepparable and undivided Nature of them CHAP. V. Christs power as man to worke Miracles was a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Miracles tbat Christ wrought when he lived on the earth were wrought by the power of God Joh. 10.38 God did them by him Act. 2.22 they were wrought First by the power of the Father The Lord telleth the Jewes many good Workes have I shewed you from the Father Joh. 10.32 the Father that is in me he doth the Workes Joh. 14.10 the Sonne doth nothing but what he seeth the Father doe Joh. 5.19 He gave Christ the Workes that he did to finish Joh. 5.36 Secondly by the Divine Power of the Sonne whatsoever things the Father doth these also doth the Sonne likewise Joh. 5.19 Thus by his owne Power he tooke on him the forme of a servant Phil. 2.6 Heb. 2.16 in his Incarnation he raised up his owne Body in his Resurrection Joh. 2.19 he exalted his owne Body and Soule into heaven in his Ascention Eph. 4.8 9. 1 Pet. 3.21 He manifested his glory in his Miracles Joh. 2.11 As man he had no power of himselfe to doe Miracles but it was given him and in regard of his humane Nature he was Anointâ—d of God with the Holy-Ghost and with power Act. 10.38 But the Man-hood being united to the second Person of the God-head he both received power of God as he was man and he had power of himselfe as he was God to worke Miracles and therefore in many Miracles which he wrought he manifested both his Natures as in curing of him that was Dumbe and Deafe Mar. 7.34 He looketh up to heaven and sigheth as Man but he commanded as God be opened In healing the Leper Mat. 8.3 to confound Manicheus denying him to be Man he touched him and to confute Arrius denying him to be God he commanded I will be thou cleane manifesting that he and none other cured him when he and none other touched him in raising Lazarus he prayeth as man but commandeth as God Joh. 11.41.43 Christ did oft cure without Prayer but yet sometimes he prayed and that for our sakes First that we might know he was sent from God Joh. 11.45 Secondly that he might teach us what to doe when we undertake any weightie imployment As for that where it is said that he could doe no great Worke there because of their unbeliefe Mar. 6.4 Mat. 13.58 We must consider there is a twofold Power in God First an absolute Power so the Lord can doe any thing if the doing thereof imployeth not a contradiction Secondly a limited Power which is limited by his Will and Decree thus God by his absolute Power could have destroyed Sodome when Lot was in it by his limited power he could not Gen. 19.22 Christ likewise by his absolute Power could have wrought Miracles in these unbeleeving Cities but in regard of his limited power he could not because it stood not with his good will and pleasure in the like manner God could by his absolute Power have removed the Cup from Christ as Christ sheweth Mar. 14.36 All things were possible to God That therefore which as Matthew puts it if it be possible hath telation to Gods limited Power Mat. 26.36 which is limited by his will and therefore Luke well explaineth it Lu. 22.42 Father if thou be willing the unbeliefe therefore of the Capernaumites did not make Christ unable to doe but it made them unfit to receive it did not diminish Christs Divine power but their owne mercies which they might have recived if they would have believed for as faith on the one side stayeth Gods hand from executing Vengeance Exod. 32.10 so unbeliefe on the other side stayeth Gods hand from reaching forth mercies Thirdly by the power of the Holy-Ghost If I saith Christ by the Spirit of God cast out Divels then is the Kingdome of God come to you Mat. 12.28 Jesus was anointed with the Holy-Ghost and with power and went about doing good c. Act. 10.38 Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost therefore have one and the same power of working Miracles yea that was done by the power of the Father and of the holy-Ghost of whom it is said there went vertue and healed them all Luk 6.19 Mar. 5.30 whose Workes when the people saw it is said they were all amazed at the mightie power of God Luk. 9.43 yea he telleth you that they were his Workes and his Fathers which he did doe Joh 10.37 38. CHAP. VI. Christs Death and Passion that it might be a Ransome for the sinnes of the world was a Work of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost CHrists Death and Passion that it might be a Ransome for the sinnes of the World was a Worke of God God was in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe 2 Cor. 5.19 He made our sinnes his sinnes that he might make his Righteousnesse our Righteousnesse for he made him to be sinne for us who knew no sinne that we might be made the Righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5 2â— where the Apostle by an Hebrewisme calleth the expiation of siinne by sacrifice sinne chata is to sinne but chitte in pihel is to expiate sinne Christ bare the punishment of sinne and became an offering for sinne for us that we which had sinned might in and through him have our Consciences purged from dead Workes and we which were defiled therewith might be washed by the blood of Christ 1 Joh. 1.7 Rev. 1.5 wherein we may see a Worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost First the Father gave us his Sonne the Lord Christ Joh. 3.16 God so loved the woâ—ld that he gave his onely begotten Sonne Rom. 8.32 He spared â—ot his owne Sonne but delivered him up for us all 1 Joh. 4.10 He sent his Sonne to be a propitiation for our sinnes Herod Pontius-Pilate the Gentiles and the Jewes did that to Christ which Gods hand and his Counsell
as they are not divided in nature but are one God in nature and in working as will appeare in the particular effects and fruits of sanctification some whereof I have already treated of It now remaineth that I further manifest how the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost do co-operate both in the beginning progresse and full perfecting this worke in us shewing how that they do draw us and quicken us and increase grace already wrought in us CHAP. XIIII The Father the Word and the Spirit doe draw us THe Scripture setteth forth our unwillingnesse in the first act of our conversion two wayes by two severall sorts of Metaphors First by comparing us to an unwilling creature that will not follow but it must be drawne Secondly by comparing us to a dead creature that cannot follow unlesse it be made alive Fiâ—st God draweth leadeth us to himself he drew the Israelites with the cords of love with the bands of a man Hos 11.4 God of us men that are unwilling by nature doth make us willing through grace powerfully inclining our wills and affections to follow himselfe we having without him no sufficiency of our selves 2 Cor. 3.5 1 Cor. 4.7 This worke is equally wrought both by First God the Father who draweth us to Christ for so the Lord Jesus witnesseth John 65 44. No man can come to me except the Father that sent me draw him And surely when the Father hath drawn us into Christs hands it is not all the powers of the Prince of darkenesse shall draw us back Mat. 16.18 Joh. 10.29 It is a gift given to us of the Father that we have any power to do good Joh. 6.65 Jam. 1.17 Secondly God the Sonne who draweth us to himselfe so he promiseth John 12.30 When he is lifted up from the earth he will draw all men to him and thus the Church desireth of Christ Cant. 1.3 Draw me and we will run after thee And no wonder for without him we can do nothing Joh. 15.4 5. it is from him wee have power to do good Phil. 413. he it is that strengthneth us with his grace that all the principalities and powers of the Prince of darkenesse shall never pluck us away or draw us back from him Joh. 10.28 Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost who draweth us Jer. 31.3 who in the same chapter as I have shewed out of the 31. verse with Heb. 10.15 16. maketh a Covenant with us He it is that the children of God are led by Rom. 8.14 even as blinde and impotent persons by a guide We cannot confesse Jesus to be the Lord without him 1 Cor. 12.3 Through Christ we have an accesse by one spirit unto the Father Eph. 2.18 Loe all the three Persons described by the Apostle in working this worke The Father to whom we have accesse the Sonne as the way Joh. 14.6 through whom we have accesse and the Holy-Ghost in whom we have accesse as our guide and Conductor There is there distinct and Personall order of working in which they worke as they are three distinct Persons whose Power and Essence is one as their work is one In respect therefore of the Essence there may be said to be one common operation but in respect of the distinction of Persons there is a distinct manner of working CHAP. XV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe quicken us THe Lord quickneth us with his grace who were dead in tresâ—asses and sinnes Eph. 5.1 5. 1 Tim. 5.6 Mat. 8.22 It is a Work of one God in three Persons to give not onely corporall life 2 Kin. 5.7 but also spirituall life Hos 6.1 2. First the Father quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 Secondly the Sonne quickneth whom he will Joh. 5.21 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost quickneth Joh. 6.63 Rom. 8.11 and it is whom he will he quickneth For he diâ—â—â—eth his Gra es severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.8 11. This mighty Work of quickning those that were dead in trespasses and sinnes is wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who doe co-operate and yet are one and the same efficient cause as they are one God of that spirituall life which the children of God live by CHAP. XVI The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe give Grace to us and multiply Grace on us THe Lord doth not onely give Grace to us but he also increaseth his gifts and multiplyeth his graces on us He is the God of peace that sanctifieth us throughout 1 Thes 5.23 he doth begin good in us he doâ—h perfect it he doth finish it Phil. 1.6 Phil. 2.13 This is an essentiall worke of God and is common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost First the Father giveth us Grace and Peace For this cause the Apostles pray to him for it Eph. 1.2 Col. 1.2 Phil. 1.2 Rom. 1.7 Rev. 1.4 and he multiplieth his Graces he gives us Jude ver 2. Secondly the Sonne giveth us Grace and Peace For this cause the Apostles pray to him for it Col. 1.2 Eph. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 Rev. 1.4 5. and he multiplyeth those Graces he giveth us 2 Pet. 1 2. Jude ver 2. Thirdly the Holy-Ghost giveth us Grace and peace The Apostle for this cause prayeth to him for it Rev. 1.4 who though one Eph. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 12.4 yet is he called the seven Spirits First in regard of his manifold Gifts and operations to all Churches Secondly in regard of particular relation that he had to these seven Churches to whom John wrote Thirdly he describeth him as he saw him in the Vision who is after described of John as seen of him in the forme of seven lights Rev. 4.5 Secondly he multiplyeth the graces he giveth us strengthening us with might in the Inner man Eph. 3.16 It is the undivided Work of one God in three Persons to give grace and to multiply on the Church those graces he hath given it causing it to increase with the increase of God as Paul speaketh Col. 2.19 CHAP. XVII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe give Testimony to us assuring us we are the Lords THe Lord doth not onely give Grace to us and increase the Graces he hath wrought in us 1 Thes 5.24 Phil. 1.6 but also witnesseth to our soules the sincerity of these graces he worketh in us and testifieth in our hearts his salvation he hath wrought in Christ for us for surely he that alone made the heart he that alone searcheth the heart he that alone worketh grace in the heart can alone testifie unto the heart with comfort Act. 15.8 the truth of those soule-satisfying graces that he hath wrought in us whenas by faith he purifyeth the heart Act. 15.9 The comfortable attestation of these graces therefore in our hearts is a worke of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost who as I have already shewed made the heart know the heart and worke grace in the heart and doe worke in witnesse-bearing to our hearts of the truth of those