and Born a-new changed from evil to good But this Son of whom I am speaking was neither by Creation Adoption nor Regeneration but by Eternal Generation out of himself in which respect God hath no Son but this and therefore he is called The Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Discriminatively †Joh. 1.18 The onely begotten Son of God of which Generation I presume not to make any Declaration for I see not how we can understand farther of this Mystery than that it is the Communication of the Divine Essence or Personality or both by the Father by which he hath Begotten the Son but the Manner how we shall never understand while we are in these Houses of Clay Christ is called ‖ Luk. 1.35 The Son of God by which words is meant that he took not his beginning when he was Born of the Virgin Mary but that he was the Eternal Son of God that he was True God as the Father is and bath the same Nature Essence Will and Power with him and because this Truth was so opposed by the Arrians a Council of 318 Bishops Assembled at Nice and Expounded this Article of our Faith in Larger Terms as you may Read in your Common-Prayer-Books I Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Nicene the onely Begotten Son of God Begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Very God of very God Begotten not Made c. When St. Peter had made his Confession of Faith †Matt. 16.16 Acknowledging Christ to be the Son of the Living God it is worthy our Serious Observation that not onely was this Confession made the Standard of Faith by those words * Vers 18. Vpon this Rock will I Build my Church but our Saviour did also declare that the Knowledge of this Great Truth came to Peter from above †Vers 17. Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven From whence it is obvious to a very ordinary capacity that if the Virgin Mary's Son had been the Son of God no other way but by Eminency in respect of the Excellent Gifts that were in him there had been no occasion for this Revelation from Heaven seeing that those Gifts and Graces were sufficient to testifie this this Revelation therefore amply declares his Filiation or Sonship to be of a more Transcendent Nature He was a Son by Real and Eternal Generation he was a Son Consubstantial with the Father the thing Begotten being of the same Essence and Substance with that which Begets it and for this cause our Saviour Averr'd * John 10.30 I and the Father are one Vnum not Vnus not one in Will but in Nature he is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Like Being but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same Substance Thus hath it appear'd that the Names Ascribed to the Son of the Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ Emanuel The Word the Son of God do all Assert and Prove his Deity Our next undertaking was to show that the Properties of the Deity are attributed to him from whence his Deity will necessarily be Inferr'd There are not properly speaking any Attributes Properties or Qualifications in God because whatsoever is in God is God but in compliance to the capacity of our shallow Understandings they are admitted and here the Caution takes place that we should not account these Properties parts of the Divine Essence because that every Property is really his very whole Essence as for Instance the Wisdom of God is no other but the Wise God the Mercy of God includes the Merciful God c. The use of these Properties or Attributes is to declare and set forth unto us the Essence of God I have already manifested the Eternity of Jesus Christ and shall distinctly speak next of his Immense Power Wisdom Mercy and Goodness discernible in those Great Works of Creation and Redemption I shall not so confine my self to those but that in handling I shall give you such light into his other Attributes that you may thereby gather a clear Manifestation of his Deity I. The Work of Creation is ascribed to Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary To Create is to make something out of nothing to doe which requires an Infinite and Uncontroulable Power such as can no where be found but in God St. John brings this as a farther Proof of the Deity of Christ whom he had called the Word * Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him as if he had said The Word or Jesus Christ whom he meant by the Word was certainly God for he made all things and without him was not any thing made which was made This was so manifest and withal so full a Proof of his Assertion that he reinforces it ‖ Vers 10. The World was made by him and the World knew him not It is sad that the Generality of Men did not formerly nor will not latterly take notice of him in the Capacity of a Creator That this Jesus Christ when he lay in the Bosom of his Father was a Principal Coagent or Efficient with the Father and the Holy Ghost in the Work of Creation Solomon declares it for †Prov. 8.22 23 c. Christ is there called the Wisdom of the Father by whom the World and all things were made For all Interpreters not excusing Arrius himself agree that these Words of the Wise Man were spoken concerning Christ but being intended to oppose the Deity of Christ that Arch Heretick though he had not the Impudence to deny the words to be spoken of Christ yet such was his Perverseness that he Corrupted the Text and for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Possessed me Verse 22d he Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Created me and so Blasphemously from his own Corrupted Text Argued That Christ was no more than a Creature We have great need to look well to our Bibles to Read Mark Learn and Inwardly Digest the Sound Doctrine thereof because there are too many in the World besides those of Rome who could they get all our Bibles into their hands would soon Teach them to speak a strange Language The Apostle St. Paul does as plainly Ascribe the Creation to Jesus Christ * Col. 1.16 For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him All things both those that are the Subject of our Sight as the Corporeal and those whose Nature and Spiritual Being as Angels and the Souls of Men submits not to Mortal Intuition That which most chiefly makes for our Present Purpose is to declare That this Creator was Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary and this is Justified †by calling him v. 15. That Created the Image of God and the First-born of every Creature and ‖ he is stiled v. 18. The
Point will admit of Having thus Vindicated the Deity of Jesus Christ and from the Names given him from the Properties of the Deity Attributed to him that is to say from his Infinite Power Wisdom c. visible in the Great Works of Creation and Redemption as also from the Testimony of God the Father God the Holy Ghost and from the holy Scriptures proved that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was and is True and Perfect God Now permit me to speak unto you in the words of St. Peter ‖ 2 Pet. 1.16 I have not followed cunningly devised Fables nor have I offered you any other Arguments or Proofs than what are Proper and tend naturally to evince this Article of our Faith I have in the whole management of them followed the plainest method hoping that in so doing I have spoke to your Understanding if I have shewn any zeal or warmth it is upon the account that I take it for granted could the Wit of Men or Malice of Devils overthrow this Foundation it could not be long before the Gates of Hell would prevail against the Church of Christ And now blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who by making known to us that Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was also the Eternal Son of God hath Taught us First That we Christians of the Gentiles as it is Written ‖ Ephes 2.19.20 Are no more Strangers or Foreigners but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner-stone so that he that ever was still is the Head of the Church viz. Jesus Christ God blessed for evermore I find our Saviour declaring ‖ Matth. 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church Thou art Peter I so Surnamed thee †Mark 3.16 and as thy Name imports so thou art viz. a Living Stone in my Spiritual Temple upon this Rock this Confession of me to be the Son of the Living God * Matt. 16.16 I will build my Church The word Rock I take here to be mentioned Allegorically onely alluding to that Memorable Rock in the Wilderness and thus taken it signifies that as that Rock then Refreshed the Israelites in the Parched and Barren Wilderness so now the Knowledge and Confession of my Deity shall be as Refreshing Comfortable and Satisfactory to all Believers to allay the heat and burning of their Guilt to quench the fire of Divine Wrath and Vengeance as were the Streams that issued out of that Rock to cool your Forefathers Thirst and to satisfie their Appetites It were certainly a great mistake with the Church of Rome to take such notice of the Affinity of words as to Interpret Peter and the Rock to be the same thing as if Christ had here Promised to Build his Church upon Peter or were weary of his Spouse and did now intend to give her a Bill of Divorce and leave her to another this must be the consequence of that Interpretation which our Adversaries so highly favour and before we can consent to it we must Contend with Two such Difficulties as I judge Unconquerable I. If we say that Christ Promised to build his Church upon Peter How shall we answer that of the Apostle †1 Cor. 3.11 Other Foundation can no Man lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ yet not him but Peter say the Romanists but let these wise Master-Builders know that the Stone they refuse is Realy and Rightfully the Head-stone in the Corner and so dangerous is it here to stumble that he that falleth on this Stone that maketh this a Rock of Offence that doubteth and will not admit Christ to be the Head of the Church shall be broken shall be wounded in his Soul but on whomsoever it shall fall viz. such as through Pride or Contumacy shall strive to shake or pull this Stone out of its place it shall grind them to Powder divine Vengeance shall dash them into a thousand pieces How will they who expound these Words Vpon this Rock of Peter and not of Christ or that Confession made of him by Peter get over the clause of that Verse where it is said The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it viz. the Church built on this Rock i. e. neither the Power nor Policy of Hell should prevail against it yet it is visible that against Peter the Gates of Hell greatly prevailed Then how must the Church totter and shake when according to them this famous Rock on which it was built did so tremble and reel But to put an end to this Controversie we have a sure Rule to which all Christians do well to have regard †Eph. 1.22 God the Father of Glory hath given his Son Jesus Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Which words do abundantly condemn the Impudence of such as presume upon a Power to order things in the Church contrary to the Revealed Will of the Head thereof On the other hand seeing the Son of God is Head of the Church how Blame-worthy nay how Audacious and Inexcusable are they who spurn against and deny any of his Ordinances I mean such whose Froward Zeal hath Exploded the Lord's Prayer as a Form Obsolete and have laid aside the Sacraments as useless which the Head of the Church Instituted as Generally Necessary for Salvation Seeing Jesus Christ is Head of the Church it is a Riddle to me whence Men derive their Power of Altering Adding to or Diminishing from what he hath Ordained Having now so Sure and Sufficient a Foundation our Main Care must be what we Build upon it We are told †1 Cor. 3.12 if we Build Wood Hay or Stubble that is Wooden and Heterodox Opinions the Trash of Philosophical Notions or the Dry Stubble of Humane Inventions and Fansies these will not abide the Trial but if we Build thereon Gold Silver or Precious Stones Solid Clear and Ornamental Truths such as may Direct Justifie and Adorn our Conversations these will Abide therefore I shall accordingly Rear this Truth upon this Foundation II. Is Jesus Christ the Son of God And is this Son Head of the Church then as saith the Apostle ‖ Phil. 2.11 Let every Tongue Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Let all the Nations and Kindreds of the Earth Acknowledge his Doctrine to be the Onely Word of Life and that he that Brought it was Rightly Jesus a Saviour Let every Soul Bend the Knee and Submit to his Commands as being the Commands of the Lord of Lords Let this Acknowledgment and Confession be made this Obedience and Homage tendred to the Glory of God the Father for by his Order and Decree this Eternal Son of God became in Fullness of time the Son of Man Now therefore tho there be some who
in the pursuit of Earthly things or for such who acknowledge the Son of God to be their only Lord to be led Captives by the Devil at his will let us therefore as becometh Christians cast off every work of Darkness and serve the Lord that bought us in Holiness and Righteousness let us put on Christ in our Affections and Actions let us be renewed in our Minds that our Affections may become Holy and Spiritual let us sanctifie God in our hearts that so our Actions may be pious just and unblameable that all may see the life that we henceforward live in the Flesh we live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us There is a Seemliness or Comeliness proper to every Calling as is very observable but Christianity is a peculiar Calling distinct from and vastly surpassing all other some things may be tolerable in others which are no ways allowable in this and therefore we are called upon * Ephs 4.1 to walk worthy of our Vocation we have more ample Revelations of the will of God than others we have better Principles greater Helps fairer Promises and a most perfect Example and therefore for us after all these to walk after the customs of the present evil World were altogether inexcusable Luther was wont to say that Christians in their strongest Assaults might make much better Defence than they usually do if they reply'd when tempted Christiani sumus we are Christians We are Christians such as are bound by our Baptismal Vow to fight against the World the Flesh and the Devil we above all Men are not to play the Cowards and make a faint Resistance seeing that we have an Armoury and are provided for all points we have an Helmet and Brest-plate a Girdle and Shield and likewise we have the Sword of the Spirit wherewith to Wound and Baffle our Enemies this is an approved Weapon with this our Saviour conquer'd the Devil We are Christians we profess to have our Conversation in Heaven notwithstanding our commoration be on Earth and therefore an Eagle may as soon stoop at a Fly as a Christian to worldly Allurements We are Christians such as declare themselves dead to these things and therefore to give them any room in our hearts were to give the lye to our Profession We are Christians such who have a sure word of promise for things necessary and therefore how unbeseeming us is it to use any indirect means to compass that which is already secured to us in the bountiful Providence of our Heavenly Father We are Christians the Servants and followers of the Son of God and we believe his Eye to be upon us during all our Conflicts with Temptations We cannot likewise but believe our noble resolute and courageous behaviour will be acceptable to him and that to the intent we may prevail and persevere he will in pure Compassion knowing our Frailty proportion the Grate he sends us by the Temptations he permits upon us and so if we are called forth to wrestle against Principalities and Powers all the Ranks of Devils yet Jesus Christ the Son of God and Captain of our Salvation will afford us such supply as we shall be able to stand We are Christians we must therefore Watch and Pray that we fall not under Temptation we must strengthen our selves in the Lord in his Example in his Precepts and in his Promises we must gird our selves unto the Battle because we shall reap if we faint not if we finish our warfare gallantly and as becometh Christians there is certainly a Crown of immarcessible Glory prepared for us this is worth sighting for which brings me to the last and highest Story I shall or can raise upon this Foundation Is Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary God Is he the head of the Church Do all true Christians put him on walking after his Example and to his Will then as true as he is God all such as thus do shall be most plentifully rewarded The Christian Religion was calculated it is true for the Humble and Poor in Spirit but yet not for such mean Spirits as act no farther than they are instigated by a prospect of advantage when we have done all our acknowledgment must be that we are but unprofitable Servants our Lord hath been no gainer by us we have not answered what of right was due from us upon the Score of our Creation therefore not being solvent and in capacity to discharge that first Debt it is no other than Arrogance and Presumption to make Conditions with God and to limit our performances by the Hopes or Emanations of his Bounty yet such is his infinite Condescension that though a Reward may not be the sole Reason yet we permitted to look upon it as the encouragement of our services Moses expressed great Faith and Patience refusing the pleasures of Egypt which were doubtless every way corresponding to the desires of Humane Nature the purchase of these requir'd no farther toil and labour of him than a gratefull acceptance yet these so great so easily acquir'd he forsook and chose rather to endure Afflicton That which chiefly encouraged this exchange was †Heb. 11.26 He had respect unto the Recompence of the Reward Our Blessed Saviour sweetned the burden of his Yoak and the Tortures of his Cross by the proposal as well of present as future Rewards he did assure them that if they would diligently mind the one thing needful all other things should be added to them they might do their Duty and cast the care of themselves upon God and they should find from him Providential Goodness that he did certainly care for them this can inferr no less than that we abound in the Work of the Lord in as much as we are ascertain'd our Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord our Hopes shall not be frustrated He that had the love to promise a Remuneration hath the power to bestow it for now we know he is God and doth as well in Heaven as on Earth whatsoever pleaseth him Hearken we therefore for our encouragement to his gracious Promises * Mat. 10.32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him also will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven He that on Earth shall confess my Deity and by Words and Deeds make an open Confession of me and if thereunto called shall in despite of Danger and Death stick to the same profession of Faith every such Person may rest satisfied his so doing shall not be forgotten but a faithful Reward shall be made thereof in Heaven no wonder therefore to hear St. Paul crying out Wo unto me if I preach not the Gospel of Jesus Christ or to see him and others of the same Principles rejoicing in that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the confessing of Christ for they had the promise of being glorified with him for whom they suffered What therefore though Troubles
would Pervert and Change the Gospel of Christ yet if an Angel from Heaven should Preach any other Gospel unto you than that Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God is the Head of the Church Let such Person be Accursed Look upon him as one Excommunicate and with whom consequently none ought to have any Commerce in Sacred Matters The Heathens had a Saying Mutus sit oportet qui non laudârit Herculem He deserves not to Speak who cannot find something to say in the Praise of Hercules Shall not Christians be thought worthy to lose their Tongues if they cleave to the Roof of their Mouths and refuse to sound forth the Noble Praise of the Blessed Son of God our Great Saviour and Redeemer How should our Tongues be Talking of his Praise all the day long It would extreamly well become Christians to be telling one the other What wonderful things this Blessed Jesus hath done for them I do not mean in the General Works of Creation and Redemption onely but his particular Favours also the Peace the Joy the Resolution the Strength the Grace they daily receive from Communion with him It can be no other than a Splendid Entertainment to the Piously Affected for they have Meat to eat that the World knows not of to recount how sweetly they were at first Translated from the Power of Satan into the Kingdom of the Son of God to tell how often and long this Blessed Son of God stood and Knocked by his Word Ministers and Spirit at the door of their hearts before he obtain'd Audience to declare how he put his finger into the hole and lifted up the latch i. e. took care to put back all Obstructions and Impediments with which the Devil the World and the Flesh had bolted up our hearts how pleasant would be the Repetition of those Passionate Perswasions and Loving Promises which the Son of God used notwithstanding the Unkindness he found how he shed abroad in their Hearts his Gracious Influences till at last by the Assiduity of his Courtship the Unweariedness of his Patience and the Fervour of his Love he overcame their Folly and Perverseness If the Shepherd not onely looks with pleasure on the Lamb he wrenched from the Jaws of the hungry Wolf but also believes the Relation of that Exploit acceptable to every Mild and Gentle Disposition Why should not Christians believe it as grateful to Communicate among themselves how often and by what ways this Great Shepherd the Son of God hath delivered them his Sheep from the Paws of that Cruel Lion who daily surrounded the Fold in expectation of his Prey What can be more Joyful than for one Christian affectionately to relate to another in what Combats with the Flesh what Bickerings with the World and in what Buffetings of Satan they have been Supported Relieved and Comforted by this Son of God How delightsome must it be for the formerly Afflicted to comfort one that at present is in the like condition by relating how when he was overwhelm'd with dismal Storms of Grief and Anxiety when he sailed in a Tempestuous Sea of Fears and Agonies and no Comfortable Light could on either hand be espy'd that then this Son of Righteousness brake out upon him his Grace Love and Mercy set them upon a Rock higher than themselves he brought them out and set them in a large place free and far enough from all their Troubles What Grace must such Discourses Minister to the Hearers And moreover this way of entertaining one another would prevent a world of filthiness scurrility foolish and inconvenient talking There is naturally so great Correspondence between the Heart and the Tongue that they are but few who delight not to speak of that Subject which most possesses and pleases their Mind Thus the Husbandman's whole Discourse is of his Land Manurement Team Plough and Crop The Souldier's Tongue runs of his Arms Colours Officers Camps Marches and Engagements and the very Huntsman will deasen your eares with the Names and Qualities of his Dogs the Obstreperous terms of his Art and the Diversity of his Game Must it not therefore argue a great poverty of Grace and that our Souls delight not themselves in the Lord when good and Edifying Discourse is so rare among us Christians especially if it be considered that we have the greatest reason not onely barely to confess but to make our boast of this Son of God all the day long But I must urge this Point farther It is not an Oral Confession onely or an Exultation in Christ the Son of God that I aim at For we Read among the Primitive Christians there were some * Tit. 1.16 viz. the Gnosticks who did profess to know God but in works they did deny him being Abominable and Disobedient and unto every good Work Reprobate too many such Titular Christians are to be found who were it not for the Oaths that fall from their Tongues it were hard to say that they had ever heard of Jesus Christ or did in the least believe him to be the Son of God they are of such Unchristian Tempers such Unsanctified Lives that they can be accounted no other than Enemies of the Cross of Christ I do heartily wish that all loose and dissolute Christians would seriously digest this Consideration How ill does Cursing Swearing Drunkenness Whoredom Prophaneness Envy Malice or whatever else is of Evil Report become them who Profess themselves Servants to the Holy Son of God such Persons notwithstanding their specious Pretences are not his Servants for it is as well the Result of Reason as the Declaration of Scripture †Rom. 6.16 That Men are properly and rightfully their Servants to whom they obey The dishonour must necessarily be very great that Ungodly Professors do to the Son of God for they cause his Name to be Evil Spoken of his Deity Doubted and his Gospel to be Despised for the Grand Reason why neither the Jews among us nor other Infidels abroad make more hast to the Mountain of the Lord is the palpable difference between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Lives of them that Confess him for they cannot escape all Wild and Extravagant Opinions of Christ when they perceive how little Influence his Precepts allow'd for Holy Just and Good have upon their Manners who pretend to be Govern'd by them Moreover to Confess This Jesus Christ the Son of God aright doth imply the suppressing all Contradicting or Blaspheming of his Deity were I worthy I should humbly tender this Note where the power of a Redress is lodg'd Impiety is come to an high pass when openly in our Streets the Blessed and Glorious Trinity is Libell'd and the Deity of Jesus Christ impugn'd this is one but the worst way of saying Farewel to Christianity In this case being God's Cause and Quarrel I must take the liberty of saying No Christian Answers the end of his Profession by a Cold Indifferency he that contents himself with his