same men by way of Prophesie And it could not be spoken of the Father for never any Hereticke denyed the Divinity of the Father Paul calleth our Saviour God Tit. 1.3 According to the commandement of God our Saviour And surely he that readeth diligently the new Testament shall finde God or Lord and Christ to be used oft reciprocally for each other as 2 Cor. 5.20 Eph. 6.6 Rom. 14.10 11 12. Luke 3.6 Act. 28.28 Heb. 3.4 Jam. 1.1 2 Cor. 2.16 1 Cor. 9.21 Act. 16.31 with 34. Tit. 2.10 13. 2 Pet. 1.1 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is God Peter calleth him God Act. 5.3 4. whom he afore had called the Holy-Ghost for reproving Ananias for lying to the Holy-Ghost he aggravateth his sin by shewing him what the Holy-Ghost is Thou hast not lyed to men but to God Againe Act. 11.17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who beleeved on the Lord Jesus Christ what was I that I should withstand God That it was the Holy-Ghost whom he twice calleth God appeareth by comparing this verse with the 15. verse The Holy-Ghost gave them the like gift as he did unto us He fell on these Gentiles and gave them the gift of tongues as he did to the Apostles and other Jewes The Apostle Paul likewise manifesteth the Holy-Ghost to be God 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are Three times doth the Apostle call the Holy-Ghost God Yea that text doth afford three severall arguments to confirme unto us the Deity of the Holy-Ghost First the Apostle proveth the faithfull to be the Temples of God because the Holy-Ghost dwelleth in them which argument were invalide and of no force if that holy Spirit were not God 2. The Holy-Ghost dwelleth constantly in the Faithfull as in one Temple Three times is the word Temple used singularly He uniteth all the Elect in all the world in one and so dwelleth in them all as if they all were but one and yet so fully and comfortablely dwelleth in one as if that one were all It being proper to God alone to be so infinitely boundlesse in his substance as thus to fill all places 3. We being the Temples of the Holy-Ghost he is therefore God It was unlawfull to make Temples of wood or stone but to the true God He therefore must needs be God who hath so many and such stately Temples as the faithfull are The Angell Gabriel Luke 1.35 shewing that Christ should be conceived by the power of the Holy-Ghost addeth in the 37. verse For with God nothing shall be impossible Plainely manifesting that the holy-Holy-Ghost who was to effect this great worke was God Yea our Lord Christ manifestly affirmeth him to be God Have ye not read that which was spoken to you by God saying c. Mat. 22.31 Was it not the holy-Holy-Ghost who spake by Moses and by the Prophets 2 Pet. 1.21 And therefore the Scriptures which were inspired by the holy-Holy-Ghost are said to be inspired of God 2 Tim. 3.16 It is said of Cornelius he was warned of God by an holy Angel to send for Peter Acts 10.22 which Angel is called an Angel of God Acts 10.3 Yet he who sent to warne him was the Holy-Ghost for so he himselfe telleth Peter that he sent them Acts 10.20 where you see that the Holy-Ghost hath twice the Name of God ascribed to him yea the Names of God and of the Holy-Ghost are often changed 1 Cor. 14.2 He that speaketh in an unknowne tongue speaketh not to men but to God howbeit to the Spirit he speaketh mysteries and not onely in the New Testament but in the Old as Ezek 2.2 4. Ezek. 11.1 5. Num. 24.2 4. and divers other places Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are absolutely and definitively called God without limitation addition or correction of speech as Creatures are not who though three Persons yet but one true ever-living God of one and the same substance I and my Father saith Christ are one John 10.30 One in every thing but in that wherein the opposition of relation distinguisheth them That our Saviour is one with the Father by identity of Essence appeareth 1. By his owne answer John 7.29 I know him for I am of him and he hath sent me 2. By the Jewes accusation for they did not challenge him for affirming himselfe to be some Vice-gerent or second Prince but for making himselfe equall to God John 5.18 and that being Man made himselfe God John 10.33 which thing in both places is justified and maintained by our Saviour They are therefore one in Essence will and action not in Person as the Holy-Ghost is likewise one with Christ and therefore you have Christ appearing in a Vision to John Rev. 1.13 and described by Iohn in the beginning of all his seven Epistles to the seven Churches as the Person that writeth to them Rev. 2.1 8 12 18. Rev. 3.1 7 14. Yet in the conclusion of all these seven Epistles it was the Holy Spirit of God that speaketh and writeth thus to the Churches and whom they are commanded to heare Let him that hath eares heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches Rev. 2.7 11 17.29 Rev. 3.6 13 22. Thus Father and Sonne are one and the holy Spirit and the Sonne are one yea all three are one 1 John 5.7 CHAP. XII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Lord is a Name of God ascribed to the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by which the Septuagint Translation and the New Testament usually interprete the word Jehovah which we translate Lord Mat. 22.43 44. And thus there is but one Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 Eph. 4.6 and the same Lord is over all Rom. 10.12 1 Cor. 12.5 Where although the holy Pen-men of the new Testament when they speake personally of the Father in his relation to Christ they usually call the Father God and the Sonne Lord Yet when either they use these words God or Lord essentially you shall finde these Names oft changed or used for each other as Rom. 14.6 Rom. 14.11 12 or if these Names be used Personally as when the Father or Sonne are spoken of apart not onely the Sonne but also the Father and Holy-Ghost are so called For this Name Lord is common to all three Persons For First the Father is Lord. Thus Christ as man giving thanks to his Father said I thank thee Father Lord of heaven and earth Mat. 11.25 Luk. 11.21 And the Apostles in their prayer Act. 4.26 The Rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. And the Saints in their Doxologie Rev. 11.15 The Kingdomes of the world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Yea Christ and Peter in their Sermons citing that place of Psal 110.1 The Lord said to
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-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-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
SCRIPTURE MANIFESTATION of the Equalitty of the Father Sonne and holy-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
hath granted to it Secondly the thing is in the Scriptures if not the word and it is a vanity to dote about questions and strife of words when as we agree in the thing The word being but the shadow and the thing the sustance and therefore the word necessarily followeth the thing as the shadow the body And surely did not men dislike the truth they would never quarrell with the words that expresse it Thirdly the words were used in the Church long before the Councell of Nice as ye may see in the writings of Ireneus Justin Martyr Clemens Alexand. Syprian Origen Tertul. Lactant. and others yea and the same of these words are used by the enemies of this truth Fourthly the words Essence Trinity Person Thuschija or Essence derived of Jascha fuit is used of God Isa 28.19 Job 12.16 Pro. 8.14 Secondly Essence is most properly ascribed to God who alone hath Essence of himself and all things have their essence from him Thirdly If the word Essence were not in the Scriptures yet the Adversaries cannot deny there is that which is equivolent to it As for example the Names of God both in the Old Testament Jehovah Jah Ehejeh all derived of the Hebrew Roote Havah or Hajah that signifieth to be and also the Names of God in the New Testament Rev. 1.4 8. Rev. 41 17. Rev. 16.5 He that was and is to come and I am Joh. 8. whose conjugate is Essence Fifthly the word Trinity though not found in the Scriptures yet the word three being used of God â— Joh. 5.7 it followeth from the equivolency of its conjugate even as the word Unity is not found in the Scriptures but the word One being used it followeth from the equivolency of its conjugate also Secondly If the word Three were not so used yet Christ and his Apostles and Prophets Name Three Mat. 28.19 2 Cor. 13.14 Mat. 3.16 17. Hag. 2.5 Psal 33.6 Rev. 1.4 5. 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. Eph. 2.18 Eph. 2.22 1 Joh. 5.7 Isa 63.9.10 Joh. 14.16 Joh. 15.26 Gal. 4.6 2 Thes 3.5 c. First as touching the word Person which we use because we have no fitter The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is applyed to the Father Heb. 1.3 as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is ascribed to the Father Mat. 18.10 to the Sonne 2 Cor. 2.10 2 Cor. 4.6 the Holy-Ghost Psal 95.6 in the Greek David inviteth all to worship his Person whom he introduceth speaking which was the Holy-Ghost Heb. 3.7 which Greek words are translated by the word Person Secondly if that may be called a Person which hath personall Acts ascribed to it Surely then the word Person may be given to the Father to the Sonne and to the holy-Holy-Ghost for we have all three speaking in the first spoken to in the second and spoken of in the third Person I might instance in many hundred places of Scripture I shall onely name a few First you have all three speaking in the first 1. The Father Ps 2.7 8. Heb. 1.5 2. The Son Mal. 3.1 Can. 2.1 Re. 21.1 3. The Holy-Ghost Ac. 10.1 Ac. 13.2 Secondly you have all three spoken to in the second 1. The Father Joh. 11.42 Joh. 17. 2. The Son Act. 13.35 Ps 2.7 Ps 110.4 3. The Holy-Ghost Can. 4. la. Act. 4.24 It was he that spake by the mouth of David Act. 1.16 Thirdly you have all three spoken in the third 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6. where to shew there is none greater nor lesser then other you have first the Spirit and from him are derived gifts vers 4 secondly the Son and from him are Administrations uers 5. thirdly the Father and from him your have Operations vers 6. you have in the like manner the Sonne mentioned in the first place before the Father 2 Cor. 13.14 2 Thes 2.16 Gal. 1.1 Eph. 5.5 Sometime the Sonne put in the last place after the holy-Holy-Ghost Rev. 1.4 5. Though the usuall order of the Scriptures is Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost Mat. 28.19 1 John 5.7 1 Thes 3.11 12. If men were not blinded with sinne they might see this their great errour in fighting against the Lord Jesus and his Spirit The Lord open their eyes to see the glorious light of the truth and draw their hearts to imbrace it Now the Lord Jesus Christ and God even our Father who hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace comfort your hearts and establish you in every good worke and word 2 The. 2.16 17. That ye may grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 Looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus to eternall life Jude 21. Which is the prayer of him who through the grace of the Lord Jesus hath devoted himselfe to the service of the least of Christs little Ones which beleeve in him And is Yours in the Lord Iesus BENIAMIN AUSTIN The Scriptures manifest the Son and Holy Ghost to be God equall with the Father lib. 1. c. 1. By ascribing to them 1. Such names â—s are proper to God onely cap. 2. as In the Old Testâ—ment 1. Jehovah cap. 3. 2. Lord of Hosts cap. 4. 3. Jah cap. 5. 4. Eheieh or I am ca. 6. 5. El cap. 7. 6. Elohim cap. 8. 7. Adonai cap. 9. 8. Shaddai cap. 10. In the new Testament 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God cap. 11. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord ca. 12. 1. One cap. 2. 2. Eternall cap. 3. 3. Omnipresent cap. 4. 4. Omnipotent cap. 5. 5. Omniscient cap. 6. 6. Incomprehensible cap. 7. 7. Most wise cap. 8. 8. Most free cap. 9. 9. Most holy cap. 10. 10. Good cap. 11. 11. Gracious cap. 12. 12. True cap. 13. 13. Living cap 14. 14. Glorious cap. 15. 15. Blessed cap. 16. 1. Common works which extend to all Sect. 1. 1. Creation cap. 2. 2. Preservation or providence 3. Illumination cap. 5. 4. Judging the earth cap. 6. 1. Universally in regard of all creatures in all places cap. 3. 2. Particularly in regard of the Sea cap. 4. 2. Speciall works the benefit whereof reach onely to the church of God Sect. 2. which are such works as the Lord worketh in regard of 1. Christ the head of the Church as his 1. Incarnation cap. 2. 2. Attestation cap. 3. 3. Vocation cap. 4. 4. Miraculous operations cap. 5. 5. Death and Passion cap. 6. 6. Resurrection cap. 7. 7. Ascension cap. 8. 2. The Church the body of Christ and do concerne 1. The Church in generall sect 3. as namely the Lords 1. Covenanting with them cap. 2. 2 Delivering Israel out of Egypt cap. 3. 3 Sending Angels to them cap. 4. 4 Sending them Prophets cap. 5. 5 Sending them Apostles cap. 6. 6 Appointing them their places in which they must preach cap. 7. 7 Speaking in and by the Apostles and Prophets cap. 8. 8 Strengthning them in their callingâ— cap. 9. 9 Sending Pastours and Teachers cap. 10. 10 Giving lawes to the Church cap. 11. 11 Giving the law on Sinai cap. 12.
12 The transg ession whereof doth offâ—nd him c. 13. provoke him c. 14 13 Working wonders cap. 15. 14 Gifts of Miracles cap. 16. 1â— Building the Church ca. 17. 16 Raising the Dead cap. 18. 1. Election cap. 2. 2. Redemption in keeping and and delivering us from 1. Sin cap. 3. 2 Satan cap. 4. 3. Wrath to come ca. 5. 3 Iustification in regard both of 1. Remission of sinnes or healing the â—oul cap. 6. 2. Imputation of the Righteousnesse of Christ cap. 7. 4. Faiâ—h cap 8. 5. Hope cap. 9. 6. True Knowledge cap. 10. 7. Our union and communion with God cap 11. 8. Adoption cap 12. 9. Sanctificatâ—on in the beginning and progresse thereof by Drawing us to him c. 14. Quicknin us cap. 15. Multiplying his graces in us cap. 16. 10 Giving us testimony we are his câ—p â—7 11. Sealing us cap. 18. 12. Giviâ—g unto us Christian Liberty cap. 19. 13. Glorification cap. 20 2. The Faithfull in particular Sect. 4. as namely in In both the old and in the new 1. Father cap. 13. 2. Highest cap. 14. 3. Lord God cap. 15. 4. L. G. Almighty c. 16 5. Great G d cap. 17. 6. Great King cap. 18. 7 The G. of Israel c. 19 2. Such Attributes as are proper to God lib. 2. cap. 1. as 3. Such works as are proper to God lib. 3. which are either 4 Such divine honour and religious worship as is proper to God alâ—ne lib. 4. as 1. Worship given by Men cap. 2. Angels cap. 3. 2. Obedience and Service cap. â— 3. Love cap. 5. 4. Hearing of him cap. 6. 5. Knowledge of him cap. 7. 6. Beleeving on him cap. 8. 7. Hoping and trusting on him cap. 9. 8. Baptizing in his Name cap. 10. 9. Swearing by him cap. 11. 10. Prayer cap. 12. 11. Praise by Men cap. 13. Angels cap 14. 12. Building to him the Temple of Jerusalem which was his house built for his honour and worship cap. 15. 13. Legall Sacrifices were offered to him cap 16. 14. Glorifying him in our lives and conversations cap 17. THE Consubstantialitie and Equalitie of FATHER SON and holy-HOLY-GHOST Who are but one GOD yet three Persons Distinguished from each other both internally by their Personall Properties and externally by their order in co-working The first Booke The Names of GOD are equally ascribed to FATHER SONNE and holy-HOLY-GHOST in the Scriptures CHAP. I. THERE is nothing which a Christian can know with more comfort or erre in with greater danger then this great and holy mysterie of three Persons in one divine essence the conceit either of three substances or of but one subsistence is erroneous and damnable Neither have we I say not any better but any other Guide to direct us with safetie to search out this mysterious Truth but the holy Scriptures Reason must not beare sway herein not because it contradicteth that but because this transcendeth that where if Reason might be admitted our Pilot to steere our Faith in its right course it would not be prayse-worthy to beleeve But when Faith layeth hold on a bare Truth which is above Reason now we beleeve not because it is mani â—sted by sense or demonstrated by Reason but bâ—cause it is so taught in the holy Scriptures This is that which maketh us happie and our Faith commendable As our Saviour telleth Thomas when he was by his outward senses convinced of the Lord Christs divine power Thomas because thou hast seene me thou hast beleeved blessed are they that have not seene and yet have beleevâ—d Joh. 20.29 For it is a signe we take God at his word when we beleeve a Truth because the Scripture affirmeth it And without doubt the Majestie of Heaven is so farre pleased to reveale himselfe to us in his Word as we clothed with corruptible bodies are capable of by which we may know so much of God as is not onely usefull for our comfort but also needfull for our salvation The greatest measure of this knowledge which we can attaine in this life is but darke in comparison of that clearer Light which we shall enjoy in Heaven Although even that will not be a totall comprehending of the Lords infinite Majestie yet it will be a full apprehending in respâ—ct of our selves who are finite creatures and therefore cannot know so much of an infinite God as he himselfe knoweth of himselfe In that place of Paul Then shall I know as also I am knowne 1 Cor. 13.12 The word as is a note of qualitie not of equalitie it intimateth a likenesse it demonstrateth no proportion yet we shall have such a perfect and certaine knowledge of God as will conduce to our eternall felicitie In the meane while the Lord affordeth us some comfortable glimpses of his Divine Majestie He looketh forth upon us out of the windowes and sheweth himselfe through the Lattesse Cant. 2.9 We may see Christ shining gloriously on our soules through the grates and windowes of his Word and Sacraments The wall of our flesh hindreth the full fruition of him We can onely by the eye of Faith see the Lord as through a Glasse darkely 1 Cor. 13.12 We see him in the Ministerie of his Word which we shall doe well if we take heed thereunto as unto a Light that shineth in a darke place untill the day dawne and the Day-starre arise in our hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 The Scriptures are the Light which we must looke unto that we may steere our Faith aright in the troublesome Sea of this World that we may not make shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1.18 19. Oh that we would consider that in all the wayes wherein we walke if we have not this Light to direct us we either wander in darknesse or are mis-led by an ignis fatuus a mock-Light which if we follow we hazard our soules and lose our true comfort And amongst other Truths we shall clearely discerne if we looke not through the false-colouring Spectacles of Arrius even this Truth That the Sonne and holy-Holy-Ghost are God equall with the Father when as the Scriptures ascribe to them such Names Attributes Workes Worship as are proper to God and common to them with the Father CHAP. II. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and holy-Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Names as are proper to God FOr these who have the Names of the true God in the Scriptures properly definitively and absolutely predicated of them even as the Father hath are truly God as the Father is But the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost have the Names of the true God properly definitively and absolutely predicated of them in the Scriptures even as the Father hath Therefore the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost are truly God as the Father is The Major is evident the Minor I shall prove by induction shewing unto you out of the Scriptures That not onely one or two Names of God but all the usuall Names of God are equally attributed
have waited for him who also did swallow up death in victorie Isa 25.8 which was the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 15. in whom that Prophesie was fulfilled John Baptist is to prepare the way of Jehovah Isa 40.3 which was the way of the Lord Christ Mark 1.2 3 4. Luk. 1.76 It was the Lord Jesus who was valued at thirtie pieces of silver Mat. 27.9 whom Zacharie calleth Jehovah Zach. 11.13 I will save them by the Lord their God Hos 1.7 A Prophesie fulfilled in Christ who is the Lord our righteousnesse Jer. 23.6 Six times Zach. 12. is he called Jehovah which that it was Christ of whom the Prophet speaketh is cleare Zach. 12.10 They shall loâ—ke upon me whom they have pierced which John a faithfull eye-witnesse sheweth it was fulfilled in Christ Joh. 19.34 35. and as a true interpreter affirmeth that this Prophesie was spoken of him Joh. 19.37 He it was that appeared to the Patriarchs and Saints in the Old Testament Act. 7.30 32. who was then oft called Jehovah Exod. 3. Gen. 18. Judg. 6. Exod. 13.22 who is likewise stiled an Angel of the Lord Exod. 14.19 who oft tooke the name of an Angel but never the nature of an Angel Heb. 2.16 he being no created Angel Heb. 1.13 but the uncreated Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 The Mediator betweene God and us Zach. 2.10 11. Jehovah promiseth to dwell among us which was the Word who was made flesh and dwelt among us Joh. 1.14 who is our God and we are his people Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is Jehovah Ezekiel calleth him Jehovah Ezek. 2.4 Ezek. 11.5 which he before called the Spirit Ezek. 2.2 Ezek. 11.1 5. It was the Holy-Ghost who gave orders for the Tabernacle so the Apostle sheweth Heb. 9.8 whom Moses calleth Jehovah Lev. 19.2 Exod. 25.1 The Holy-Ghost spake by the Prophets 2 Pet. 1.21 1 Pet. 1.11 whom usually they stile Jehovah Jer. 47.2 Jer. 51.1 Jer. 33.12 Yea Isaiah calleth him Jehovah Isa 6.3 5. whom Paul expressely calleth the Holy-Ghost Act. 28.25 Yea the Prophets in the New Testament say Thus saith the holy-Holy-Ghost Act. 21.11 And the holy-Holy-Ghost said Act. 13.1 2. And the holy-Holy-Ghost testifieth Act. 20.21 Whereas the Prophets in the Old which spake by the same Spirit say Thus saith the Lord. Thus doth the Scriptures affirme the Father to be the true God Jehovah the Sonne to be the true God Jehovah the holy-Holy-Ghost to be the true God Jehovah because whatsoever Name Attribute Worke or Honour is by the Scriptures ascribed to the Father is in the like manner given to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost as is exemplified in the Name Jehovah Not as if there were three Jehovahs differing in nature essence or substance for the Lord thy God is one Lord Deut. 6.4 and I am the Lord saith he and there is none else Isa 45.5 but because there is but one essence of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which yet are distinct from each other by their mutuall relations or personall properties CHAP. IV. Lord of Hosts is a Name common to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost JEhovah Sebaoth Lord of Hosts or Elohe Sebaoth God of Hosts is a Name proper to God Isa 51.15 Jer. 51.19 Jer. 10.16 Jer. 32.18 He hath Armies in Heaven in Earth and in all places by which he fighteth against his and the Churches enemies and he it is that ordereth and guideth all the Hosts in the world The whole battaile in a just and well-managed Warre is the Lords 1 Sam. 17.47 He is the great Commander of all creatures he hath souldiers under him of all sorts he can make Wormes to be his great Armie Joel 2.25 and by them can he render vengeance to his enemies and reward them that hate him Acts 12.23 Herods pampered Carkas is made a Stable for Wormes to live in his body is food for them to feed on as the word in the Syriack importeth yea Frogs Flies and Lice are under his command Exod. 8. He that giveth them their being sets them their stint they cannot hurt an Israelite or spare an Egyptian Yea from the lowest of all earthly to the highest of all heavenly creatures they are all under his command and fulfill his word Psal 148.2 3 10. Psal 103.20 21 22. And yet such is his Power that he need not muster his Forces nor gather his Armies together it is sufficient if he doe but arise his enemies shall be scattered if his Power doe but appeare they that haâ—â— him shall flee Psal 68.1 This Name is never given to any creature in the Scripture but to God the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First the Father He is the Lord of Hosts Zach. 2.9 Zach. 2.11 Ye shall know the Lord of Hosts hath sent me The Prophet speaketh of Christ who was sent by the Lord of Hosts his Father Secondly the Sonne He is the Lord of Hosts Zach. 2.8 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts after the glory hath he sent me to the Nations that spoyled you Loe the Sonne who is sent by the Father is stiled likewise the Lord of Hosts for the Prophet mentioneth one Lord of Hosts sending another Lord of Hosts sent Isaiah likewise calleth Christ the Lord of Hosts Isa 8.13 14. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himselfe let him be your feare and let him be your dread and he shall be for a sanctuarie but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock â—f offence to both the Houses of Israel That Christ was the Lord of Hosts who is also stiled a stumbling-block is confirmed by two un-erring Interpreters namely by Peter 1 Pet. 2.6 and Paul Rom. 9.32 33. He it was whom Hosea first calleth an Angel Hos 12.4 and in the next Verse stileth him The Lord God of Hosts Hos 12.5 The Chariots of God are twentie thousand even thousands of Angels Psal 68.17 18. That this was Christ who was the Lord of this great Host the Apostle maketh cleare Eph. 4.8 in citing the very next words and applying them to Christ Thirdly the Holy-Ghost He is the Lord of Hosts Zach. 1.3 Say thou to them Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Turne ye to me saith the Lord of Hosts and I will turne to you saith the Lord of Hosts Where you must admit the Holy-Ghost who spake by the Prophets Act. 1.16 2 Pet. 1.21 Neh. 9.30 Mar. 12.36 to be He that is stiled the Lord of Hosts in the first place unlesse you will admit a Tautologie by ascribing to one and the same Person three times commanding of or speaking to Israel when as he speaketh onely twice to them Yea the Prophet Isaiah compareth the Spirit of the Lord to a Warlike King who setteth up his Standard against the enemies of his Church Isa 59.19 When the enemie shall come in like a floud the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him Yet that Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are one Lord of Hosts the Prophet Isaiah maketh plaine Isa 6.1 3 5. when he was sent by him
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-Holy-Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne CHAP. V. Jah is a Name of God ascribed to the Father Sonne and holy-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-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
Lord whom ye seeke shall come into his Temple Mal. 3.1 That this was Christ you have it so interpreted in three Evangelists Luk. 1.76 Mark 1.2 Mat. 11.10 He is thy Lord and worship thou him Psal 45.11 That this was the Messiah not onely the Apostle Heb. 1.7 8. but also the Jewish Rabbies so affirme and Daniel intreated the Lord to heare him for the Lords sake Dan. 9.17 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost Ezek. 2.4 he is there stiled the Lord which in the second Verse is called the Spirit and so likewise Ezek. 11.1 6. Yea Isaiah manifesteth this truth more clearely where God called Adonai saith Whom shall I send or who shall goe for us Isa 6.8 Whom shall I send There is the Unitie and who shall goe for us There is the Trinitie That this was the Sonne and Holy-Ghost together with the Father is cleare if ye compare Joh. 12.39 40 41. Act. 28.25 26. and Isa 48.16 with this Isa 6.8 9 10. as I have shewed Yea Malachy useth this word in the forme Plurall and joyneth with it a word Singular Mal. 1.6 If I be Mâ—sters Ani is Singular and Adonim is Plurall If I There is the Unitie of the Essence be Masters there is the pluralitie of Persons I know some may object Isa 19.4 That Adonim Casheh is so used when ascribed to men and Adonai Gen. 24.33 Gen. 42.30 But first Casheh may be a Substantive and it may be translated Lords of Crueltie but if Casheh be an Adjective Singular and Adonim a word Plurall joyned to it it then may note the multitude of Masters which the captived Egyptians should serve and yet their unanimitie in crueltie towards these Egyptians which though many yet should joyne as one man in Lording over that slavish people So that this place maketh not against the Argument for the proofe of the Trinitie from the use of the word plurally Secondly that place Gen. 24.35 Abrahams servant useth this word plurally The Lord hath blâ—ssed my Masters greatly but he speaketh of Isaac whom he calleth his Master likewise Gen. 24.65 as well as of Abraham For where the word is restrained to Abraham he useth it singularly as in 36 37 39 42. Verses c. Thirdly that place Gen. 42.30 though Adonei be used there plurally yet it maketh nothing for the Adversaries of this Truth It may then be read according to the Originall The man of the Lords of the Countrâ—y spake roughly to us that is the chiefe of the Lords or the chiefe Lord spake roughly to us Now Joseph was chiefe Lord under Pharaoh Gen. 41.40 Psal 105.21 Act. 7.10 And it is an Hebraisme frequently used in the Old and New Testament to adde the name of Man thereby to expresse any excellencie as a man of Words is an eloquent man Exod. 4.10 a man of Arme is a mightie man Job 22.8 a man of Warre Exod. 15.3 a noble or chiefe Warrior a man of Countenance 2 Sam. 23.21 and a man of Measure 1 Chron. 11.23 is a goodly man Besides in these two last Objections the force is in the Points and not in Letters If the Points in the Hebrew be not coevall with the Letters then these Objections are of no force from the Text but onely from the Massorites additions CHAP. X. Shaddai or Almightie is a Name of God ascribed to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost SHaddai is a Name that God is pleased oft times to call himselfe by It setteth out Gods all-sufficiencie and selfe-sufficiencie both in regard of himselfe as also in regard of his children to blesse protect and to make them eternally happie as also in regard of his enemies to destroy and ruine them To which the Scripture hath reference when it saith Shad Destruction commeth from Shaddai the Almightie Joel 1.15 Isa 13.6 This Name is never ascribed to any creature neither indeed can it for no creature hath sufficiencie of it selfe but it hath dependance on the Creator Act. 17.28 In him we live and move and have our being This Name is ascribed First to the Father Job 33.4 The Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almightie hath given me life where the Father and the Sonne from whom the Spirit of God proceedeth Joh. 15.26 Joh. 16.7 and whose Spirit he is Mat. 10.20 Rom. 8.11 with Gal. 4.6 Rom. 8.9 1 Pet. 1.11 are called Almightie and God Secondly to the Sonne Gen. 35.11 Christ calleth himselfe El-shaddai That this was Christ Hosea cleareth Hos 12.4 where he calleth him an Angel yet it was no created Angel Hos 12.5 It was the Lord God of Hosts the Lord is his memoriall But the Father and the Holy-Ghost have not the Name of an Angel ascribed to them onely the Sonne of God is oft so stiled who is likewise by the Psalmist called Shaddai Psal 68.14 When the Almightie scattered Kings c. This the Apostle sheweth to be Christ if you compare the eighteenth Verse of the same Psalme with Eph. 4.8 And surely though Christ was rich yet for our sakes he became poore 2 Cor. 8.9 Thirdly to the Holy-Ghost He is Shaddai the Almightie Balaam saw the Visions of the Almightie Num. 24.4 Num. 24.16 which were the Visions of the Holy-Ghost for so Moses intimateth Num. 24.2 The Spirit of God came on him Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are one in Name one in Nature and are one selfe-sufficient Lord God Oh that we had Faith to depend upon this our all-sufficient God for safetie and also Knowledge not to mistake our Tenure by usurping that as our owne which the Lord onely lendeth to us the one would give unto us soule-solacing content in the enjoyment of God and of his Graces the other would free us from soule-vexing sorrowes flowing either from the absence or losse of outward things seeing that we are keepers not absolute commanders stewards Luk. 16.12 not possessors of them as our owne the Lord onely being possessour of heaven and earth Gen. 14.19 Psal 24.1 Deut. 10.14 1 Cor. 10.26 28. And from his al-sufficiency commeth all ours Oh how would this abate our pride in outward things and our vainglorying in inward graces 1 Cor. 4.7 Rom. 11.20 21. CHAP. XI 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or God is a Name of God used in the New Testament and ascribed to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or God is a Name oft used in the new Testament There is but one God 1 Tim. 2.5 1 Cor. 8.4 Eph. 4.6 And there is none other but he Mar. 12.32 One in Nature Substance and Essence though three Persons subsistences or relations For there are three that beare record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy-Holy-Ghost and these three are oâ—e 1 John 5.7 There is alius alius non aliud aliud another Personally though not another Essentially And though we cannot say there are three Gods yet every Person is God The Scripture the rule of our faith denyeth the one but assenteth to the other by
John who was the Lord God of the Prophets Rev. 22.6 which were of Israel for so he affirmeth Rev. 22.16 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is the God of Israel he who spake by the mouth of all the Prophets Luke 1.70 was the God of Israel Luke 1.68 That this was the Holy-Ghost is evident 2 Pet. 1.21 1 Pet. 1.11 Eph. 3.5 Act. 1.16 Act. 28.25 who spake by the Holy-Ghost 2 Sam. 23.2 who was the God of Israel 2 Sam. 23.3 The Spirit of the Lord being called the God of Israel And indeed Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost which brought Israel out of Egypt as I shall shew is the God of Israel He being their God Exod. 20.2 that brought them out of Egypt Jehovah Elohim Deut. 5.6 Exod. 20.2 The Lord thy Gods one Name of God being singular and the other plurall Thus you see Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost have the Names of God definitively and absolutely predicated of them And as Ireneus who lived long before the Councell of Nice observeth in his third Booke Cont. Haeres Cap. 6. Neque Dominus neque Spiritus Sanctus neque Apostoli eum qui non est Deus definitivè absolutè Deū nominassent in aliquando nisi esset verus Deus Neither the Lord nor the holy-Holy-Ghost nor the Apostles would have ever called him God which is not definitively and absolutely God and unlesse he were the true God And indeed he that is a diligent reader of the Scriptures shall not finde any Name or Names of God ascribed to the Creature without some addition limitation or correction of speech by which it may easily be discerned that they are not truly God to whom when the Name of God is ascribed yet is so limited is so restrained seeing that Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost is the God of Israel Oh let us give to the Lord alone the honour due to his Name and let us conclude with the Psalmist Psal 41. last Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting Amen and Amen The second Booke The Attributes of GOD are equally ascribed to the FATHER to the SONNE and to the holy-HOLY-GHOST in the Scriptures CHAP. I. The Scriptures manifest the Sonne and Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them equally with the Father such Attributes as are proper to God THese who have the incommunicable Properties of God even as the Father hath are truly God equall with the Father But the Sonne and Holy-Ghost have the incommunicable Properties or Attributes of God even as the Father hath Therefore the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are truly God equall with the Father The Major Proposition is evident and needeth no proofe The Minor I shall prove by particulars and shall shew that Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are co-equall and 1. One 2. Eternall 3. Omnipresent 4. Omnipotent 5. Omniscient 6. Incomprehensible 7. Most wise 8. Most free 9. Most holy 10. Good 11. Gracious 12. True 13. Living 14. Glorious 15. Blessed Lord God though distinguished from each other by their Personall Relations and Properties as also by that Order in which they co-worke CHAP. II. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are One. TO be One is most proper to God Deut. 6.4 1 Tim. 2 5. 1 Sam. 2.2 Deut. 4.39 The Unitie that is in the God-head is of all other the greatest God being especially one in essence He is Unissimus most one as the Schooles speake Though therefore the Father and the Sonne are distinct from each other by their Relations yet are they one Joh. 10.30 yea one in every thing but in that which their Relations distinguisheth them And as the Father and Sonne are one so likewise the Sonne and the Spirit are one When it was Christ who writeth and speaketh to the seven Churches Rev. 2. Rev. 3. yet these writings and sayings were from the Spirit And therefore though in the beginning or Preface Christ is described as the writer as the speaker yet in the Epilogue and conclusion of the same Epistles the Spirit is introduced as the Author and inditer of them He that hath an eare let him heare what the Spirit saith to the Churches Surely the reason is what Christ speaketh the Spirit speaketh the Holy-Ghost receiveth of Christ and of the Father and sheweth unto men Joh. 16.14 15. They are one in Essence Will and Action what the one doth the other doth likewise Joh. 5.19 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 As Relatives they cannot be one but as they subsist in one and the same essence so they are one Absolutely they therefore are one though relatively they are three Neither are there as Athanasius sheweth three Fathers but one Father Eph. 4.6 1 Cor. 12.6 1 Cor. 8.6 Not three Sonnes but one Sonne 1 Cor. 8.6 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 12.5 Nor three Holy-Ghosts but one Holy-Ghost 2 Cor. 11.4 1 Cor. 12.4 11. It is one and the same Spirit who worketh all and Eph. 2.18 it is one Spirit by whom we have accesse in Christ to the Father CHAP. III. Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are Eternall ETernitie is an essentiall Propertie of God and is incommunicable to a Creature First some things there be which have not a beginning yet have an end as Gods Decrees which he from all eternitie decreed to be fulfilled in time Eph. 1.4 Tit. 1.2 2 Tim. 1.9 Secondly some things there are which have both a beginning and an ending as all sublunarie Creatures except Man 1 Pet. 4.7 Thirdly some things there are which had a beginning and have no ending as Angels Col. 1.16 Joh. 1.3 And the Soules of men which likewise had a beginning Gen. 2.7 Zach. 12.1 yet are immortall Mat. 22.30 Onely the Lord hath neither beginning nor ending Time being the measure of the Creature not of the Creator He inhabites Eternitie Isa 57.15 His wayes are everlasting Hab. 3.6 He is God from everlasting to everlasting Psal 90.2 He is not onely before the Creature but before the making of it from an everlasting before to an everlasting after it Or if you will God is not onely from everlasting to everlasting in regard of himselfe but also in respect of his Church and people He is from everlasting before by predestination to an everlasting after by glorification He is the King of ages and times 1 Tim. 1.17 ruling them and disposing of them according to his own will and pleasure He is the King of Eterritie Jer. 10.10 He is the first and the last and besides him there is no God Isai 44.6 Isai 4.1.4 He is the eternall God Gen. 21.33 His Name is for ever Psal 135.13 Thus First the Father is eternall and in this regard he is stiled he which is and which was and which is to come Rev. 1.4 Secondly the Sonne is eternall he hath the same title ascribed to him which is and which was and which is to come Rev. 1.8 He is Alpha and Omega the
his pleasure So true is that of Tertullian Testimonium Divinitatis est veritas divinationis The Lord onely to whom all things are present knoweth these things that are future in respect of us and doth reveale them to us when the knowledge of them is for our good and so First the Father doth reveale and keep secret future things according to his holy will and Divine pleasure And therefore our Saviour checking the curiositie of the Disciples demanding the time of his restoring the Kingdome to Israel saith Act. 1.7 It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power Secondly the Sonne revealeth future things Mar. 13.23 he fore-told his Disciples all things he fore-shewed the destruction of the Citie and Temple of Jerusalem and the manner of it fortie yeares before it was accomplished Mat. 24.25 Luk. 19. the Lord Jesus who is the Lambe in the midst of the Throne can alone open the Book with seven seales Rev. 5. which can manifest what shall be to the end of the World and can reveale it to his Church He knew all the answers and passages that men should give to his Disciples and they should meet withall when he sent them Mat. 21.2 3 Mar. 14.13 14. Luk. 22.10 11 12 13. he saw what should happen to himselfe Joh. 18.4 who should betray him Joh. 13. Joh. 6.64 the houre of his death Joh. 2. Joh. 19.28 30. yea for this end he telleth it to them as he saith Joh. 13.19 that ye may know that I am a Name peculiar to God Exod. 3.14 he testified what was fore-told in the Revelations Rev. 22.16 Prophesies which many of them were not accomplished a thousand years after as God he knew all things although as man he was ignorant of the day and houre of judgement Mar. 13.32 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost revealeth future things The things that David spake before of were spoken by the Holy-Ghost Act. 1.16 he fore-told the generall famine Act. 11.28 as also the binding of Paul and the place where it must be done although Paul was many hundred miles distant from that place and much disswaded from going thither Act. 21.11 Act. 20.23 he it was that revealed to Simeon that he should not see death till he had seen the Lord Christ Luke 2.27 he fore-sheweth the departure from the faith in the latter dayes 1 Tim. 4.1 he testified before the sufferings of Christ 1 Pet. 1.11 in the Old Testament he told the Jewes and divers other Nations what should happen to them Nehem. 9.30 2 Pet. 1.21 and in the New did shew all things to the Apostles what should come Joh. 16.13 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First doe know the thoughts and hearts of men Secondly doe know all the wayes and works of men and of all creatures Thirdly doe know all things that are to come and are one Omniscient Lord God equall in essence and Omnisciencie Therefore as the eye of the Lord is on us so likewise let the eye of our soules be ever fixed on him for our comfort and for our direction And let us pray that he would guide us with his eye Psalm 32.8 his eye directeth men when no eye beholdeth them his eye oft terrifieth them when no eye seeth them his eye comforteth them when no eye looketh on them and his eye counselleth them when no other eye is nigh them CHAP. VII The knowledge of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost is incomprehensible and unsearchable GOD is incomprehensible comprehending all things not being comprehended himselfe Well might Zophar demand Canst thou by searching find out God canst thou find out the Almightie to perfection it is as high as heaven what canst thou doe it is deeper then hell what canst thou know the measure thereof is longer then the earth and broader then the Sea Job 11.7 8 9. he sheweth the infinitenesse of Gods knowledge to be every way past finding out Yea the Apostle that could sound as deepe as any man yet findeth this bottomelesse depth to be infinitely beyond his reach and therefore breaketh out into an admiration Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and of the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out Rom. 11.33 Job is driven to acknowledge his ignorance and to confesse his errour that he uttered things that he understood not things too wonderfull for him Job 42.3 and David doth tell us that the Lords greatnesse is unsearchable Psal 145.3 and his knowledge too wonderfull for him Psal 139.6 his Majestie is infinitely transcending our knowledge for we are rather knowne of God then doe truly know God Gal. 4.9 First the knowledge of the Father is unsearchable Agur putteth this as an unanswerable question to all unbeleevers Prov. 30.4 What is his Name if thou canst tell there being nothing but the nature and essence of God but may be comprehended and explained by some Name No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and them to whom the Sonne will reveale him which excludeth not the Holy Spirit of God for he searcheth out the deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 but creatures onely Mat. 11.27 Luk. 10.23 Joh. 1.18 yet the Disciples of the Lord and all true Beleevers see him and know him Joh. 14.7 Joh. 6.46 Joh. 14.9 Secondly the knowledge of the Sonne is unsearchable Agur likewise putteth this as an unanswerable question to all unbeleevers Prov. 30.4 What is his Sonnes Name if thou canst tell he hath a Name which no man knoweth but himself Rev. 19.12 and those which have this knowledge revealed of the Father Mat. 16.17 None knoweth the Sonne but the Father Luke 10.23 Mat. 11.27 whose love is described to his Church to be passing all knowledge Ephes 3.18 19. who is yet according to that measure of grace given them of God both seen and known of them Joh. 14.9 Joh. 10.14 and who are to grow in the knowledge of him as they grow in grace 2 Pet. 3.18 Thirdly the knowledge of the Holy-Ghost is unsearchable he is unknown to the men of this world who are out of Christ Joh. 14.17 but he revealeth himselfe to his Church 1 Cor. 2.12 who both see him and know him John 14.17 and God by him 1 Cor. 2.12 Thus Father Sonne and holy-Holy-Ghost is one incomprehensible Lord God whose incomprehensible Majestie can be no otherwaies knowne of us but as in his Divine pleasure he hath manifested himself in his Word Oh that men would therefore submit their reason to the Scripture and beleeve these Divine truths of the incomprehensible God which are discovered to them by the Word although the things which are there laid down are not onely beyond their apprehensions but seemingly contrary to their corrupted reasons then would not men wilfully oppose truth which they are willingly ignorant of but would amongst other truths see Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost to be equall in the Incomprehensibilitie of their Majestie and glorie CHAP. VIII The
Holy-Ghost doe it by gain-saying his Word not by frustrating his Worke for he convinceth the World either to conversion or confusion He punished Ananias by Peter Act. 5.5 and Elymas by Paul who is then expressely said to be full of the Holy-Ghost Act. 13.9 10. He casteth these Sinners that doe despite unto him Heb. 10.29 into eternall punishment He that blaspemeth the Holy-Ghost shall never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come Mat. 12.32 33. Mar. 3.29 Surely there is not the like said of the Father or of the Sonne yea our Saviour saith the contrary of sinnes committed against himselfe not as if the Holy-Ghost were greater then the Father or the Sonne but onely equall with them in Majestie and in glorie This Sinne is not onely against his Person but against his operation and working It being a sinne against the light of illumination which he terminatively worketh in them A sinne against the Father is remitted by the blood of the Sonne which washeth away all sinne 1 Joh. 1.7 and a sinne against the Sonne is done away by the worke of the Spirit who applyeth the Merrits of Christ to every penetent Soule by faith purifying their hearts Act. 15.9 but if the sinne be against the Holy-Ghost and against his Workes by falling away from his graces Heb. 6.4 5. by grieving this holy Spirit Eph. 4.30 and by maliciously opposing and blasphemously doing despite to the Spirit of grace Heb. 10.29 All hope of obtaining pardon is quite cut off for there is no fourth Person to cure this Apostatizing relapse and the Worke cannot be wrought backward for the Spirit proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne in regard of his Personalitie worketh also from them both who also begin that Worke which he terminateth which he perfecteth in us Now the Spirit worketh neither by the Father nor by the Sonne as the Sonne is God though he worketh by him as I shall have occasion to shew as he is the Sonne of man wherefore where the Spirit applyeth not the blood of Christ there is no remission of sinnes for there is neither faith nor repentance wrought in that mans heart by the Spirit of God who terminateth and perfecteth those graces which also the Father and the Sonne worketh with him in the hearts of every true beleever This sinne therefore is also against the Father and the Sonne and not onely against the Holy-Ghost but because it is more immediately against his worke therefore it is said to be against the Holy-Ghost who together with the Father and the Sonne punisheth this Apostasie by giving up such a wretch to his owne hearts lust and by delivering him up to a reprobaâ—e sense Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost are coworkers in this Worke namely in judging the earth and in punishing the World which the Lord doth manifest when he was about to cast Adam and Eve out of Paradice for God saith the man is become like one of us Gen. 3.22 which cannot be spoken where there is but one Person againe in the destruction of Babel and confusion of Languages the Lord saith Gen. 11.7 Câ—me ye and let us goe downe and let us confound their Laâ—guages where the Father speaketh to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost Besides confusion of Languages is no worke of the Creature but a Worke proper to God alone which is spoken in the plurall Number Let us goe downe and let us confound them and yet to shew the unitie it is Jehovah who is one did scatter and confound them Gen. 11.8 9. Moses relating that action in the singular Number which God himselfe speaketh of plurally it being the worke of one God in three Persons to effect this Worke Moreover the Psalmists phrase is remarkeable Psal 58.11 Jesh Elohim Shophedim est dii judicantes word for word one word singular and another plurall is joyned with Elohim a word of the plurall number intimating the unitie of that one God in Essence and Trinitie of Persons that judge the earth Oh that men would sing Halelujah and give praise to â—od for his worke And surely the first time that Halâ—lujah is used in the Old Testament is Psal 104. last whâ—re consuming of sinners is mentioned as in the New Testament it is first used in Rev. 19. where the destruction of Antichrist that man of sinne is foretold Thus you may see the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost is that one God that effecteth these Workes which extend Generally to all The second Section CHAP. I. The Workes of God which doe concerne the Lord Jesus the Head of the Church were wrought by the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did effect these common Workes which extend generally to all so also they effect these speciall Works which reach onely to the Church of God which are of two sorts for First they are such Workes which God alone worketh in regard either of Christ the Head of the Church Or Secondly of the Church which is the Bodie of Christ First these Workes which are wrought in regard of Christ the Head of the Church as namely First Christs Incarnation Secondly his Attestation Thirdly his Vocation Fourthly his miraculous Opperations Fifthly his Death and Passion for the sinnes of the World Sixtly his Resurrection Seventhly his Assention were wrought by the Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them these Workes equall with the Father CHAP. II. Incarnation of the Word was a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Incarnation of the Word is a Worke of God it is inchoative an Essentiall Worke of God common to the whole Trinitie though terminative it is terminated perfected and consummated in the Sonne of God whose Personall Worke it was to be made flesh Joh. 1.14 and to have two Natures Divine and Humane united in one Person who as he was the Sonne of God was eternally begotten of his Father but as he was the Sonne of man he was borne of a Woman in the fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 To us a Childe is borne Isai 9.6 and therefore man to us a Sonne is given of God and so he is God The efficient cause of Christs Incarnation is the whole Trinitie God sent him Joh. 3.34 He raised up this great Prophet Deut. 18.15.18 the Lord pitched this Tabernacle and not man Heb. 8.2 First the Father prepareth a Body for him Heb. 10.5 He sent his Sonne made of a Woman Gal. 4.4 Mat. 10.40 After all his Servants he sent unto them his Sonne saying they will reverence my Sonne Mat. 21.37 Mar. 12.6 Luk. 20.13 and our Saviour telleth us he that honoureth not the Sonne honoureth not the Father that sent him Joh. 7.23 Secondly the Sone which as God made all things Joh. 1.3 made also his owne Body for he emptyed himselfe and tooke on him the forme of a servant
Phil. 2.7 He tooke not on him the Nature of Angels but tooke on him the forme of Abraham Heb. 2.15 Here are two Natures in Christ First the Nature emptying himselfe and assuming Secondly the Nature taken and assumed He tooke not on him the Nature of Angels he was no created Spirit as they are but he tooke on him the Seed of Abraham and therefore surely he was before he tooke this Nature of man on him and so he testifieth of himselfe Joh. 8.58 He tooke part of our flesh and blood Heb. 2.14 He made himselfe partaker of that which was ours that we might more easily take part of that which was his Thirdly the Holy-â—host formed his body This the Evangelist affirmeth Mat. 1.18 so the Angel foretold to Mary Luk. 1.35 and likewise telleth Joseph Mat. 1.20 and we acknowledge in the Creed that he was conceived by the Holy-Ghost Thus the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost equall in Power and glory are one and the same efficient Cause of Christs Incarnation which was terminated in the second Person they wrought the Mantle of his Humanitie which he put on who continuing that he was is made that he was not And indeed fit it was that he by whom man was creaâ—ed should restore as it were recreate man Joh. 1.3.4 Col. 1.16 Thus was the Maker of the earth made man on the earth He that was the brightnesse of Glory tooke upon him the vilenesse of our Nature The Lord Jesus who was in the fo me of God and equall with God tooke on him the forme of a servant Phil. 2.6 7. and made little lower then some of his owne Creatures Heb. 2.7 He that was infinitely more excellent from all Eternitie then Angels made himselfe a little while inferiour to Angels that he might make us like unto Angels Mat. 22. Oh that we had the tongue of Men and Angels to sing forh his praise who thus humbled himselfe that he might exalt us that he to whom the Angels minister Mat. 4. and doe worship Heb. 1.6 for our sakes should as it were leave the Mansions of heaven and take up his first Lodging in a Stall and be crouded in a Manger and swadled in a few ragges such was the riches of his grace towards us that though he were rich yet for our sakes he became poore that we through his povertie might be rich 2 Cor. 8.9 CHAP. III. The Attestation or the Witnesse hearing of the Messiah was the Worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THe attestation of the Word that he was the Messiah of the World was a Worke of God Fit it was the Sonne of God should receive testimony from God he received not testimony from men Joh. 5.31 God bare witnesse that he was the Saviour of the World Angels and holy men bare witnesse of him secondarily as Gods Messengers to us but God is that witnesse on which our faith must depend Gal 1.8 If we receive the witnesse of men the witnesse of God is greater this is the witnesse of God which he hath testified of his Sonne Joh. 5.9 And surely the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost bare witnesse to us of the Messiah First the Father bare witnesse of him So the Lord Christ assureth us Joh. 5.37 The Father which hath sent me hath borne witnesse of me Joh. 8.18 He testified of him at his Baptisme Mat. 3.17 and at his transfiguratioâ— Mat. 17.5 Secondly the Sonne indeed as man had no power to beare witnesse of himselfe Joh. 5.13 yet as God he testified of himselfe Joh. 8.18 and did justifie his own testification Joh. 8.16 17 18. who together with his Father witnessed that he was the Messiah Joh. 4.26 Joh. 5.17 Joh. 10.25 and that God was his Father and he his Sonne Joh. 5. Joh. 6. Joh. 10. yea the Lord Jesus telleth the Jewes Except ye beleeve that I am ye shall dye in your sinnes where the Lord stileth himselfe I am a Name peculiar to God Exod. 3.14 and telleth the Jewes they must beleeve it unlesse they will dye eternally Let these that fight against the Divinitie of the Lord that bought them seriously weigh this and other places where he stileth himselfe thus who say that Christ never professed himselfe to be God or tooke any Name of God on him Thirdly the Holy-Ghost bare witnesse of Christ so he telleth his Disciples He shall testifie of me Joh. 15.26 He shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you Joh. 16.14 and the Apostles shew the Jewes that the Holy-Ghost did beare witnesse of Christ Act. 5.32 who bare witnesse of him at his Baptisme by descending on Christ Mat. 3.16 Luk 3.22 Joh. 1.33 and after Christs ascention by dessending on the Apostles and Disciples of Christ Act. 2. Act. 8. Act. 10. Act. 19. There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy-Holy-Ghost and these three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 not onely one Witnesse but one God which Text of Scripture because it is a notable Pilate to steere the Ship of the Church in sayling between the Rocks of Arrianisme denâ—ing Unitie and of Sabellianisme opposing the Trinitie the â—nemies of the truth have therefore endeavoured to destroy it rasing this Text and others out of the Scriptures Thus the Arrians did corrupt this too and other Texts even as Jerome complaineth who notwithstanding citeth this place against thâ—m so doth Fulgentius and Epiphonius yea Cipryan in Lib. de unitate Eccles who lived before Arrius rehearseth it and Athanasius cited it against Arrius in the Nicene Councell as Junius observeth and it is to be found in the most Ancient Copies both Greek and Latine and is so sutable to the matter the Apostle treateth of and so fitly answering the eight and ninth Verses of the same Chapter and so consonant to the word that there is no reason to thinke this an addition to the Canon of the Scriptures CHAP. IV. The Vocation of Christ to the Office of a Mediator was a Worke of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost THe Vocation of Christ to his Mediator-ship and the sending of him to preach was a Worke of God alone The Lord Jesus being to offer himselfe a Sacrifice for the sinnes of the World wherein he was both Priest and Sacrifice glorified not himselfe to be made an High Priest Heb. 5.3 as man he tooke not this Office on him for no man taketh this Honour on him but he that was called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 as he was the Sonne of Man he was called of God an High Priest Heb. 5.10 but as God being one with the Father and the Holy-Ghost so he voluntarily undertooke this Office the efficient Cause of this Act was the whole Trinitie First the Father sent him to preach our Saviour speaking to the Jewes saith My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me Joh. 7.16 He made him an high Priest who said Thou art my Sonne to day have I begotten thee
determined to be done Act. 4.27 28. Secondly the Sonne gave himselfe for us Tit. 2.14 He gave himselfe for us to redeeme us from all iniquitie Gal. 1.4 He gave himselfe for his Church that he might sanctifie it and clense it Mat. 20.28 1 Tim. 2.6 He gave his life a raâ—some for many Heb 9.14 He offered up himselfe Col. 2.20 He loved me saith Paul and gave himselfe for me Joh. 10.17.18 He laid down his life of himselfe Thirdly through the Holy-Ghost this Worke was done Heb. 19.14 Christ through the Eternall Spirit offered himselfe He sent him to doe this Worke Luk. 4.18 19. This Worke though it was consummated perfected and terminated by the Sonne of God when his soule did make an offering for Sinne Isai 53.10 So the Translators render it in the Margent it being terminatively wrought by Christ yet inchoactively it was the Worke of the whole Trinitie and so Isa 53.10 The Lord shall make his soule an offering for sinne And thus the Translators render it in the Text the Originall will beare either neither of them is contrary to the Analogie of faith for Christ suffered and dyed for the sinnes of the World by the common decree of the Father the Sonne the Holy-Ghost which was their essensiall and common Worke Act. 2.23 He was delivered by the determinate Counsell and fore-knowledge of God whom the Jewes tooke and by wicked hands crucified and did slay It being a worke of love to Man in God but a Worke of malice to Christ in the Jewes CHAP. VII The raising of Christs Body from death was a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Resurrection of Christ or raising up of his Body was a Worke of God Act. 3.15 Rom. 10.9 Act. 10.40 Act. 2.32 Rom. 4.24 Act. 4.10 It required a Divine power to effect this Where the Lord Jesus may be considered either First essentially as he is one Essence with the Father and the Holy-Ghost so he raiseth and is not raised Secondly Personally and that First as he is the Sonne of Man and so he is raised Mat. 17.22 23. Luk. 9.22 and raiseth not Secondly as he is the second Person in the Trinitie which was made flesh Joh. 1.14 and thus he is raised Luk. 9.21 and did rise againe Luk. 18.33 yea did raise up himselfe Joh. 2.19 The resurrection of Christ from the dead is attributed to the whole Christ and yet is was actively wrought according to his Divinitie and passively according to his Humanitie This Doctrine was mightily explauded by Philosophy who thought Paul to be a Babler and setter forth of strange Gods because he preached Christs Resurrection Acts 17. but Christians doe know by the Word First the Father raiseth him Gal. 1.1 1 Thes 1. last Rom. 6.4 Rom. 8.11 Act. 13.33 Secondly the Sonne raiseth himselfe Joh. 2.19 1 Pet. 3.16 2 Cor. 13.4 1 Cor. 15.12 Joh 10 17 18. I have power to lay down my life and I have power to take it up where he seemeth to compare his life to a garment that he can take up and lay down at his pleasure It was not possible that Death should hold him by force Thirdly the holy-Holy-Ghost raiseth him Rom. 1.4 The Father therefore raiseth the Sonne by the Sonne and the Sonne raiseth himselfe by the Spirit of Sanctification whereby he is declared to be the Sonne of God where therefore the Scripture ascribeth the raising of Christ from the dead to the Father it excludeth not the power of the Sonne and Holy-Ghost but sheweth the Identitie or samenesse of Will Power Operation in them Where if Christ had not dyed we could not have lived and if he had not risen againe we had slept for ever but loe the Dragon is vanquished and the Lamb is victorious the Lord of life grapling with Death foiled him in his owne Territories He brake all the Prisons of death and unfettered all his fellowes If when Christ was borne old Simeon was willing to dye Luk. 2.27 how willingly ought we to dye that know Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruites of them that sleepe 1 Cor. 15.20 Seeing that the first fruites differ onely in maturity from the time of the Harvest Let an Infidell sorrow immoderately for his friend that is dead as for a man without hope and let an unbeleever bewaile the misery of his dying soule but we have not so learned Christ Eph. 4.20 Christ who is the Key of our resurrection hath raised himselfe and opened a way for us to follow Heb. 10.20 CHAP. VIII The lifting up of Christs body into Heaven or his ascention was the Worke of Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost THe Ascention of Christ or the lifting up his body into Heaven is a worke of God None but the Lord did receive him into glory 1 Tim. 4 16. and did set him at his owne right hand in heavenly places First it was a Worke of the Father not onely to raise him from the dead but by lifting up his body to to set him at his owne right hand Eph. 1.20 Secondly it was a worke of the Sonne to ascend into Heaven so the Psalmist foresheweth Psal 68.18 and the Apostle affirme Eph. 4.8 1 Pet. 3.22 and Christ himselfe witnesseth Joh. 20.17 Joh. 3.13 Joh. 16.15 As man he was taken up into heaven Mar. 16.19 Act. 1.9.11 and was set at Gods right hand which posture of his imployeth First resting from his labours Secondly raigning as a King Thirdly judging as a Judge but as he was also God so he lifted up his owne body Psal 68.18 He assended by his owne power He that did at the first make Joh. 1.3 and doth still support all things by his power Heb. 1.13 did likewise exalt himselfe and ascend above all things by the power of himselfe who used a cloud rather to magnifie his Divinitie Psal 104.3 in his riding theteon Psal 68 4. and commanding it then for any assistance he received from it He supporteth the cloud the cloud of itselfe could not support him Thirdly it was a Worke of the Holy-Ghost He led Christ into the Wildernesse Mar. 1.12 Mat. 4.1 Luk. 4.1 He translated the bodies of the faithfull from place to place 1 King 18.12 Act. 8.39 He who formed Christs body in the Virgins Wombe Mat. 1.18 20. Luk. 1.33 who raised up his body out of the grave Rom. 1.4 did also exalâ— his body into heaven who was exalted by the right hâ—nd of God Act. 2.33 Now the Spirit of God is called the Finger of God Luk. 11.20 with Mat. 12.28 The Hand of God Act. 11.21 Ezek. 8.1 Ezek. 1.3 Ezek. 3.14 yea Peter Act. 2.33 doth distinguish this right hand of God from the Father and therefore it cannot be taken personally for him where if it be used Essentially the Holy-Ghost is necessarily included but if Personally the Holy-Ghost is then there described to be him by whom Christ was exalted Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doe co-operate as they are three
Persons in these Workes which concerne Christ the Head of the Church and as they are one Essence so they are one and the same cause of effecting them Oh that we could by the eye of faith see Christ ascended into Heaven and placed on the right hand of his Father then might we at once thereby behold our Saviours honour and our owne happinesse It was expedient for him for his owne honour to ascend into Heaven and to lead Captivitie captive Eph. 4.8 and to have Angels and Authorities and Powers made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 in regard of us it was expedient Joh. 16.7 for our eternall safetie for he is gone to prepare a place for us Joh. 14.2 He is entred into heaven to appeare in the presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 and is at the right hand of God and maketh intercession for us Rom. 8.34 Heb. 7.25 The third Section CHAP. I. The Workes of God which concerne the Church in generall are the Common Workes of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe Co-operate in these Workes which doe concerne Christ the Head of the Church so they likewise effect these Workes which doe concerne the bodie of Christ the Church of God which works concerne either First the Church in generall or Secondly the faithfull in particular First these Workes which concerne the Church in generall First Gods covenanting with his people Secondly his delivering Israel out of Egypt Thirdly his sending Angels on any extraordinary message to his Church Fourthly his sending Prophets under the Law Fifthly his sending Apostles Sixtly appointing them to preach in some places and not in others Seventhly his speaking in and by the Prophets and Apostles Eighthly his strengthening them in their callings Ninthly his sending Pastors and Teachers Tenthly his giving Lawes to his Church Eleventhly his giving more particularly the Law unto Mount Sinai Twelfthly the transgression whereof is an offence committed against him and Thirteenthly provoketh him to wrath grieveth him Fouretenthly his wonders Fifthteenthly his gifts of Miracles Sixteenthly his building the Church Seventeenthly his raising the dead These Workes are wrought by the Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost The Scriptures doe manifest the Sonne and Holy-Ghost to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them these Workes equally with the Father CHAP. II. The making of a Covenant with the Church was a Worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THe Lords Covenanting with his Church and people is a Worke of God alone There is not any Dayes-man betwixt them that can lay his hand upon them both Joh. 9.33 that should or could Vmpire for them onely the Majestie of Heaven is pleased so farre to abase himselfe as to Covenant with us for whenas there was such an infinite distance between heaven and earth God and man that man could never have enjoyed Ged as his never-failing blessednesse or have had communion with him as his soule-filling happinesse but by the Lords voluntary condescention to us which he expresseth by way of Covenant it was out of the riches of his grace to us in Christ that his infinite Majestie humbled himselfe to Covenant with us that he would be our God and that we should be his people in this worke the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost have an equall share with the Father or rather they Co-worke First the Father Covenanted with us in Christ Hag. 2.5 According to the word that I coveâ—anted with you when ye came out of Aegipt he covenanted with them First that he would be their God Secondly that they should be his People Ezek 36.28 And thus Christ calleth the Father The Apostles God and Faâ—her Ioh. 20.17 who Thirdly suffereth in all the afflictions of his Church and People for so Esay telleth us In all their afflictions he is afflicted Esay 63.9 Secondly the Word who being made flesh is the Mediator of the Covenant Heb 8.6 1 Tim. 2.5 Mal. 3.1 Yet he being the second Person of the Trinitie is the Testator and Covenanter of his Church For if Christ be not a Testator whereunto tendeth the Apostles reasoning Heb. 9.16 Where a Testament is there must of necessitie be the death of a Testator First it was the Lord Jesus that dyed he is therefore the Testator or Covenanter secondly the Church of God are his people Mat. 1.21 Luk. 1.77 Zach. 2.11 Mat. 16.18 Through him and in him God is ours and we are his Cant. 6.2 who thirdly suffereth in the afflictions of his people Act. 9.4 The persecuted members suffer on earth and the Lord Jesus the Head complaineth from heaven Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is the Author of this Covenant So the Apostle sheweth Heb. 10.15 16. The Holy-Ghost also is a witnesse to us for after he had said before This is the Covenant that I will make with them c. And surely there cannot be a better interpreter of the Leviticall Rites then the Apostle who having spoken of the first Covenant and of Divine Ordinances pertaining to it Heb. 9.18 which God had commanded Exod. 26. Lev. 16. and comming to shew their signification which was intended in them by God that ordained them he saith Heb. 9.8 The Holy-Ghost this signifying that the way out of the Holyest was not yet made manifest while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing as if he had said the Holy-Ghost in giving these ceremoniall lawes intended to shew that the way to Heaven was not so wide not so common not so open as it should be when Christ abolished in his flesh the Law of Commandements contained in Ordinances Eph. 2.15 And blotted out the hand-writing that was against us Col. 2.14 Secondly the Church of God are his People So the Apostle sheweth 2. Cor. 6.16 that this was the Holy-Ghost appeareth by comparing this verse with 1. Cor. 6.19 for we are the People of God who dwelleth in us and whose Temples we are but we are the Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Cor. 3.16 and he dwelleth in us Rom. 8.11 And Thirdly he suffereth in the persecutions of his people and the persecutors doe resist him Act. 7.51 and doe despite to the Spirit of Grace Heb. 10.29 Thus the Father the Word and the Spirit are one God in Essence and have one common and essentiall operation and are one and the same author of the Covenant with the Church though in respect of the order of their Relations and their personall manner of working there is in this and in all their workes a distinct order Thus the Father maketh a Covenant with his Church by his Sonne who is the Mediator 1. Tim. 2.5 and through his Spirit who is the earnest of our inheritance Eph. 1.14 Which sheweth no inequalitie in the Persons but onely the voluntarie dispensation of this and other Divine Actions which God in his infinite Wisedome is pleased to use CHAP. III. The delivering of Israel out
be bound at Jerusalem by the Jewes Act. 21.11 Yea it was one action of the Father the Word and the Spirit who is one God in essence to send Esaiah Esa 6.1 The Father sent him Esa 48.16 The Lord God and his Spirit sent me when the Father and the Son are called by the Lord God Secondly The Sonne sent him John 12.40.41 Where he repeateth that particular message and sheweth that Esaias saw the glory of the Lord Jesus and spake of him Thirdly The Holy-Ghost sent him whose glory Esaias saw Esa 6. when he citeth this same errand which Esay was sent on Act. 21.25 26. Esay 6 10 11. and Esaias witnesseth Esay 48.16 I know some Divines interprete â—his Prophesie Esa 48.16 of the Father and the Holy-Ghost sending Christ where First That interpretation doth also prove the equality of the Holy-Ghost with the Father Secondly It doth no way crosse this for many things spoken of by the Prophets were fulfilled in the Prophet as in a type of Christ and in Christ as in the Anti-type of the Prophets as he that readeth the Psalmes of David and other Prophesies of the Old Testament may easily perceive Thirdly The other places namely Ioh. 12.40.41 and Act. 28.25 doe sufficiently shew that the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did send Isaiah which that the Father sent also I thinke none doubteth CHAP. VI. The sending of the Apostles was a worke of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost GOD as he sent Prophets under the Law so did send Ministers under the Gospel both extraordinarie Messengers as Apostles as also ordinarie Ministers as Pastours and Teachers Apostles were sent of God And therefore Matthias being to be chosen an Apostle they pray unto God to shew unto them whether he had chosen Matthias or Joseph Act. 1.24 And Paul telleth us expressely 1 Cor. 12.28 That God setteth Apostles in the Church Where the Name of God is taken not personally but essentially for the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost the sending of Apostles being a worke common to them First the Father sent Apostles So he sent Paul who was an Apostle of God the Father Gal. 1.1 Gal. 1.16 by his wâ—ll 2 Cor. 1.1 and commandement Secondly the Sonne sent Apostles Joh. 4.38 Joh. 20.21 So he sent the Twelve Mat. 10.16 Mat. 28.19 as also Paul Act. 26.16 Act. 22.21 who was an Apostle of Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1.17 Gal. 1.1 Act. 9.15 and sent by his commandement 1 Tim. 1.1 and therefore he giveth thankes to him 1 Tim. 1.12 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost sent Apostles He it was that gave commandement to the Apostles Act. 1.2 He sent Philip to the Eunuch Act. 8.29 He sent Peter to Cornelius Act. 10.19 20. Act. 11.12 He sent forth Barnabas and Paul Act. 13.4 who were separated at his commandement Act. 13.2 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost three Persons but one God sent Paul the Apostle to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ CHAP. VII The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost did limit the bounds of the Apostles Commissions appointing them where they should preach the Gospel AS the Apostles had their Commissions from God to preach so they had their prohibitions from him where they must not preach To set Bounds and Limits to the Apostles who had generally the care of all Churches 2 Cor. 11.28 was a worke peculiar to God It was He alone that gave them their Commissions and could alone limit those Commissions he had given them This was an essentiall worke of God common to all three Persons First the Father from whom Christ as man received his Commission sendeth this great Doctor of the Church in his owne Person to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel onely Mat. 15.24 Rom. 15.8 To him the Apostle Paul prayed to have his way directed to Thessalonica 1 Thess 3.11 Secondly the Sonne prohibiteth the Apostles in his first Commission that he gave them from going to the Gentiles or to the Samaritans Mat. 10.5 And to him the Apostle prayed to direct his way to Thessalonica 1 Thess 3.11 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost forbids Paul and Timothie to preach in Asia Act. 16.6 or in Bithynia Act. 16.7 And Paul is bound in the Spirit to preach in Jeruselem which witnesseth in every Citie that bonds and afflictions wait for him Act. 20.22 23. And Philip is caught away from the Eunuch by the Spirit that the Eunuch seeth him no more Act. 8.39 There ir therefore one and the same Divine Will and Power of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost with the Father which gave Commissions to the Apostles to preach and limited their Commissions that though they must preach in some places 1 Cor. 9.16 yet they might not preach in others CHAP. VIII The Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost spake in and by the Prophets and Apostles THe Prophets and the Apostles were but the voyce God was the speaker he did speake by the mouthes not of some onely but also all the Prophets since the World began Luk. 1.7 all Scripture both of Prophets and Apostles is of divine Inspiration 2 Tim. 3.16 yea the Lord himselfe testifieth Hos 12.10 I have spoken by the Prophets and I have multiplyed Visions and used similitudes by the Ministery of the Prophets and because the Lord is the speaker in the Scriptures the Scriptures therefore are called the Word of God This is an Essentiall and common Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost to speake by the Apostles and Prophets First the Father spake by the Apostles and Prophets Heb. 1.1 Secondly the Sonne spake by the Apostles and Prophets It was the Word of Christ that Paul spake Col. 3.16 Phil. 1.27 and it was the Lord Christ that spake in Paul 2 Cor 13.3 he did speake by John in his Prophesies Rev. 1.11 12 13 14. he speaketh in the Word Heb. 12.25 and he did speake by the Prophets Zac. 2.8 9 10 11. c. Hos 12.4 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost spake in the Apostles and Prophets he spake in John who was both an Apostle and a Prophet when he wrote to the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. he was in Joseph Gen. 41.38 and spake in and by the Prophets Num. 24.2 Mich. 2.8 Nehem. 9.30 Num. 11.29 Heb. 3.7 with Heb. 4.7 2 Pet. 1.21 Act. 28.25 Act. 1.16 and he spake in and by the Apostles Mat. 10.20 Mar. 13.11 he taught them what to say Luk. 12.12 and so inspired Stephen that his enemies were not able to resist his wisedome Act. 6.10 he revealed the Mysteries of Christ to the Apostles and Prophets Eph. 3.5 who was not onely in them but also on them Luk. 2.29 Luk. 4.18 Yea you have the Word and Spirit speaking in David from the Father 2 Sam. 23.2 3. It being the Essentiall Worke of one God in three Persons to speake by David and by all the Prophets and Apostles CHAP. IX The Father the Word and the Spirit did strengthen the Apostles and Prophets in their callings AS
The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost which gave this Law are one Jehovah Deut. 6.4 Heare O Israel the Lord thy God is one God and yet the pluralitie of Persons which is shewed by our Saviour to be the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost is intimated in the word Elohim as R. Simeon Ben. Johaâ— in Zoar writing on thâ—s place affirmeth adding moreover that this Misterie shall not be revealed before the comming of the Messiah The Doctrine of the Trinitie being maintained by the Ancienter Rabbies but by these of Latter times in opposition to the Lord Jesus this truth as well as others is wilfully and maliciously opposed CHAP. XIII The breach of these Lawes was an offence against the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Lord was the Maker and giver of these Lawes so he it is that is offended by the breakers of these Lawes And thus David acknowledgeth although he had sinned against Bathsheba by inticing her to folly againgst Uriah by murdering him against the whole Army by indangering them at the death of Uriah against the Church of God by giving them an evill example and against the Children of Ammon causing them by this his act to blaspheme God and to defie Israel 2 Sam. 12. yet he saith against thee against thee onely have I sinned Psal 51.4 For the Lord is properly the partie offended whether the sinne be committed immediately against him as in the sins against the first Table or whether the sinne be committed mediately against him as in sinnes against the second Table And surely the wrong done to the crâ—ature is therefore a wrong because it is against the will the command of the Creator and were it not for that no wrong were done to the creature Now as the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost gave the Law so sinne which is the transgression of the Law is committed against the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost and doth provoke them to wrath First sinne is an offence committed against First the Father Thus the Children of Israel sinned against him in breaking Moses Law Joh. 7.19 and therefore Christ in his prayer said Luk. 23.34 Father forgive them they know not what they doe As God he himselfe forgave them but as man being the great high Priest he prayed for them and as the Advocate of the Church he excused them It was great love in the Sonne of man to forgive them greater love to pray for them but most great love to excuse them Secondly the Sonne So the Children of Israel sinned against him in the Wildernesse They tempted Christ and were destroyed of the Destroyer 1 Cor. 10.9 and the Apostle telleth us that they which wound the weake conscience of their Brethren sinne against Christ 1 Cor. 8.12 he likewise is reproached by them that reproach his saints Heb. 11.25 and persecuted by those that persecute his people Act. 9.4 yea ungodly Apostataes doe crucifie afresh the Sonne of God and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.6 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost For surely the Children of Israel sinned against him They rebelled and vexed the holy Spirit Isa 63.10 Act. 7.51 wicked men by sinne doe reproach him 1 Pet. 4.14 Anâ—nias and Sapphira did lye to him Act. 5.3 4. and did tempt him Act. 5.9 and were taken away by sudden death Act. 5.5 10. yea our Saviour telleth you of a blasphemy against the Holy-Ghost which shall never be forgiven Mat. 12.32 Surely the Holy Ghost is God equall with the Father the blasphemy against him being irremissible Thus it is one God who is distingushed into three Persons the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who is the onely Law-giver and against whom any sinne when it is committed is an offence being contrary to his Will Justice and Goodnesse CHAP. XIIII The Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost are provoked to wrath by sinne SUrely there is no such changeable passion in the immutable God as wrath neither is there such an affection in him as anger But the Scriptures condescending to our capacity and speaking after the manner of men doe attribute anger to God and doe ascribe wrath to the most high there being only the like effect of it wrought by his Justice but no such affect as the Schooles speake in his Majestie there being such effects as anger produceth in man wrought by him though there is not any passion of anger in him And surely if any thing could possibly make God to be angry with man it would be sinne which is so contrary to his Will Nature Holynesse and all his Attributes and therefore according to the language of the Scriptures sinne provoketh God to wrath and grieveth the holy One of Israel First the Father is provoked to wrath by sinne Rev. 6.16 He that sitteth in the Throne where the Father is included though the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are not excluded Rev. 22.1 3. Rev. 5.6 his wrath is terrible to the great ones of the earth Secondly the Son is provoked to wrath by sin Ps 2.12 Kisse the Sonne lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that puâ— their trust in him Perishing in the way importeth suddaine destruction whiles they are doing their actions yea the great Princes of the World shall be terrified with the wrath of the Lambe Rev. 6.16 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is provoked to wrath by sinne Isai 63.10 and grieved thereby and therefore the Apostle dehorting from sinne addeth Eph. 4.30 and grieve not the Holy Spirit sinne being that which alone angreth and grieveth this holy Spirit The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost being of one Nature Power and Authoritie are alike grieved and provoked to wrath by the sinnes of the wicked and the transgressions of the ungodly Oh that men would looke in anger upon their sinnes in time which if not repented of will make the Lord look in anger on them for ever CHAP. XV. The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe onely worke Miracles THe Lord alone for the good of his Church can and doth onely Worke Miracles Psal 136.4 He alone doth wondrous things Psal 72.18 it is not in the power of any Creature properly to doe any Miracle Joh. 10.21 Angels good and bad may and oft doe effect great and strange Workes but it is not without the helpe of God First they worke by the hâ—lpe of God they having their power and being of him Satan and his instruments can doe no more then the Lord giveth them power And it is Pareus observation that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is given is twenty times used in the Revelations even then when the Holy-Ghost speaketh of the power of evill Angels and wicked men Secondly they use the h lpe of Gods Creatures in all their workes But the Lord alone worketh of himselfe and wit out the helpe of any Creature First he alone doth wondrous things Secondly He alone giveth power to work Miracles First
of God Eph. 2.22 It being a Worke of God to build the Church the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost building the Church not instrumentally but efficiently with the Father are therefore equall in Power and Operation with him CHAP. XVIII The raising the Dead is a work of the Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost TO restore a lost habite was judged by Phylosophy a thing impossible and if impossibilities might admit of degrees the raising of the Dead was thought more impossible theÌ„ other things But the Pihlosophy of Christians not contradicting but transcending reason hath learned out of the Scripture another Lesson and their faith grounded on Gods word maketh them to believe the resurrection of the Dead And surely there is no impssibility in that which God promiseth He will assuredly effect that which he undertaketh and he will doe all his pleasure Isa 46.10 If he worke who shall let it Isa 43.13 this worke therefore is great is difficult but it is to man not to God He can as easily raise the Body out of something as he did at the first create it out of nothing The Lord challengeth this as his worke I even I am he and there is no God with me I kill and I make alive Deut. 32.39 This Worke is a Worke of one God yet he is distinguished into three Persons which effect this great Worke. First the Father raiseth up the Dead John 5.21 not onely these that are spiritually dead in sinne but also those that are corporally Dead through sinne Secondly the Sonne raiseth up the Dead He promiseth to raise up those that beleeve in him Joh. 6.40 54. Joh. 11.25 He changeth our vile bodies that they may be fashioned according to his glorious working whereby he is able to subdue all things to himselfe Phil. 3.21 yea he raiseth all both Good and Bad they that have done good to the Resurrection of life and they that have done evill to the Resurrection of damnation Joh. 5.28 29. Thirdly the Holy-Ghost raiseth the Dead Rom. 8.11 He quickneth our Mortall bodies by the Spirit that dwelleth in us The Sonne and Holy-Ghost are equall with the Father in Power and Majestie and doe Worke together in these Works which doe concerne the Church of God in generall The fourth Section CHAP. I. The Workes of God which doe concerne the faithfull in particular are the Common and essentiall works of the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost AS the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost doe Co-work in these Actions of theirs which doe concerne the Church in generall so likewise they co-operate in those workes which concerne the faithfull in particular As namely 1. in Election 2. in Redemption delivering us First from sinne Secondly from Satan Thirdly from the wrath to come 3. in Justification First in the remission of sins Secondly in the imputation of the Righteousnesse of Christ 4. in faith 5. in Hope 6. in true saving or sanctified knowledge 7. in our Union and communion with God 8. in Adoption 9. in sanctification both in the beginning progresse of it both by drawing us to himselfe and quickning us as also by giving and multiplying graces in us 10. in his attestation giving Testimony to us we are his 11. in sealing us 12. in giving us Christian libertie 13. in salvation or glorification These are wrought for us and in us by the Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost The Scriptures doe manifest Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to be God equall with the Father by ascribing to them these Workes equally with the Father CHAP. II. Election is a Worke of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost THere is a two fold Election First there is an Election to a Ministeriall Office or funâ—â—ion thus Judas though a Devill was chosen to be an Apostle Joh. 6.70 Secondly there is an Election to life and glory thus Judas though chosen to be an Apostle was not chosen to eternall life Joh. 13.18 I speake not of all I know whom I have chosen The former I have already shewed to be an Essentiall Worke of God I shall endeavour to make manifest the latter to be a Worke common to the Trinitie The foundation of God standeth sure having this seale The Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 Election is there stilled a foundation First in regard of the immutabilitie and firmenesse of it Secondly because it is the beginning and first principall of our salvation and the meanes thereof it being built thereon The Lord knoweth them that are his He knoweth them not onely in scientia cognitionis sed scientia dignationis Psal 1.6 He knoweth wicked men all their wayes but he will not own them Mat. 7.23 He is ashamed of them Mar. 8.38 but he acknowledgeth and rewardeth the Righteous he passeth by the one but he chooseth the other This Election is a Worke of one God in three Persons First God the Father Electeth Ephes 1.5 He chooseth us in Christ before the foundation of the World All the Sonnes elect are the Fathers Joh. 17.10 His good will and pleasure as it is the ground of other graces Jam. 1.18 Ephes 1.14 Luk. 12.32 so it is of his Election of us likewise Eph. 1.5 11. Secondly God the Sonne Electeth Joh. 15.19 I have chosen you out of the World John 13.18 I know whom I have chosen Joh. 6.64 He knew from the beginning who believed not and in regard of this the faithfull are stiled his elect Mat. 24.31 Mar. 13.27 All the Fathers elect are his likewise Joh. 17.10 his will and good pleasure is the ground of our eternall happynesse Joh. 17.24 I will that they whom thou hast given me be with thee where though he prayeth as our Mediator yet he willeth it as our God equall with the Father Never any humble Supplicant would pray thus I will this or I will that Besides the Booke of life in which the Names of the Elect are written is the booke of the Lambe Rev. 21.27 Thirdly God the Holy-Ghost electeth the eternall Counsell of God is ascribed to him Isai 40.31 who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord or being his Counsellour hath taught him If the Father or the Sonne choose without the Spirit they should direct him in his work but he worketh according to his own will and good pleasure for he divideth his gifts and graces to every man severally as he will 1 Cor. 12.11 Thus Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doe Co-work in our Election CHAP. III. Redemption is a work of the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost and that first in not onely keeping but also delivering us from the evill of sinne REdemption is a Work wrought of the whole Trinity as the first cause and therefore Redeemer is a Name usually ascribed to God Isai 44.24 Isai 34.4 Isai 41.14 Isai 48.17 Isai 49.7 Isa 54.58 Jer. 50.43 but more immediately was the Worke wrought by Christ our Goel Job 19.25 our kinsman The neerest kinsman in the Leviticall Law had power to revenge
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-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-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-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
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-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
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-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
that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gave service to them which by nature are no Gods If the Lord Jesus be no God by Nature nor the holy-Holy-Ghost how is that Divine Honour hath been given to the Sonne and holy-Holy-Ghost equally with the Father Doth not the Scripture enjoyne such worship to be given to them as is due to God alone For first Religious worship is due to Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost First from Men Secondly from Angels Thirdly we are to obey and serve Fourthly Love Fifthly Heare Sixthly Know Seventhly Believe Eightly Hope or trust in them Ninthly to be baptized in their name Tenthly Paul sweareth by them Eleventhly we are to pray to them Twelfthly praise is given to them by men Thirteently Angels Fourteenthly the Temple was built Fifthteenthly and Sacrifice offered to them Sixthteenthly we are to glorifie in our lives the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost who though distinguished into three Persons yet are Essentially one and the same eternall and everliving Lord God CHAP. II. Divine worship is due from man to the Father to the Sonne and to the Holy-Ghost DIvine and Religious Worship is due to God both from men and Angels First Religious worship is due to God from men So our Saviour answered Satan tempting him to worship him Mat. 4.4 Thou shalt worship the Lord â—â—y God and him onely shalt thou serve This one God whom we are to worship is the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost First God the Father is to be worâ—hiped The true Worshippers worship the Father in Spirt and in truth and the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Secondly the Sonne is to be worshiped So Isaiah sheweth that every knee shall bow to him Isa 45.23 That this was the Lord Jesus Paul manifesteth Rom. 14.10 11. So likewise the Church is commanded Psa 45.11 He is thy Lord it is spoken of Christ and worship thou him Yea all the faithfull are thus enjoyned Psal 2.12 Kisse the Sun lest he be angry There was a kisse of homage due to Christ from all the world even such a kisse of homage Samuel gave to Saul when he anointed him King 1 Sam. 10.1 Idolaters did superstitiously give this to their Idols as the Arabians when they saw the new Moon because they could not reach to kisse her they kissed their hands in homage to her from this Idolatry Job purgeth himselfe If I beheld the Sun when it shined or the Moone walking in brightnesse And my heart hath been secretly inticed or my mouth hath kissed my hand This were an iniquity to be punished by the Judge for I should have denyed the God that is above Job 31.26 27 28. Thus the Israelites gave this kisse of homage to their Calves Hos 13.2 and to Baal 1 King 19.18 giving that worship due to Christ to their Idols yea when Christ required faith of the blind man he received faith and worship of him Joh. 9.35.38 he was also worshipped of the holy women Mat. 28.9 and of his Disciples Luke 24.52 Mat. 28.17 and of the Cananitish woman Mat. 15.25 Thirdly the Holy-Ghost is to be worshiped Psal 95.6 The Prophets inviteth all to worship him whom he after introduceth speaking in the foure next verses where the Apostle sheweth to be the Holy-Ghost Heb. 3.7 8 9 10 11. The Church ministred unto the Lord and fasted Act. 13.2 that the Lord whom they ministred in the Holy Ghost is evident for he that was supplicated to and worshiped giveth an answer to them As they ministred to the Lord and fasted separate me Paul and Barnabas for the worke whereunto I have called them and they obey his voyce and send them forth at his command Act. 13.4 and surely he that hath Temples consecrated to his service hath or ough to have worship given to him in those Temples How therefore are we the Temples of the Holy-Ghost 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 1 Cor. 6.19 why are we consecrated in baptisme to his worship and service Mat. 28.19 if we may not worship him if we may not serve him moreover we are to believe in him so we professe in the Creed Him therefore whom we beleeve in we may worship The Apostle joyneth faith and invocatâ—on together Rom 10.14 we are therefore to serve God the Spirit So Ambrose Lib. 2. de Spirit Sanct would have Phil. 3.3 to be read according to the Originall The Sonne and the Holy-Ghost in whom as I shall shew we are to beleeve in with the Father and to whom in baptisme we give up our names to serve them who are one God with the Father ought to have one and the same worship given to them with the Father who will not give his glory to another neither would he joyne himselfe in covenanting with his Church to have the same worship given by her to them if that they were not in the forme of God and had not one and the same Essence with him being equall with him in Majestie and glory CHAP. III. The Angels do worship serve and minister at the command of the Father of the Son and of the Holy-Ghost DIvine worship is due to God from Angels Neh. 9.6 The Hoast of heaven worshipeth him and he commandeth and giveth charge to them Psal 91.11 and they are ministring spirits Heb. 1.14 sent forth at the command of the Father of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost First Angels are ministring spirits sent forth at the Fathers command Heb. 1.7 They behold his face Mat. 18.10 they stand in the presence of thiâ— great King and are ready to doe his will who doe give worship to him Rev. 5.11 12 13. as John there sheweth They worship him who sent Isaiah Isai 6.2 9. which was the Father Isai 48.16 Secondly Angels are ministring spirits sent forth at the Sonnes command Rev. 22.16 and did minister to him Mat 4.11 they are his Angels Mar. 13.27 Mat. 13.41 2 Thes 7.8 and serve him but attend us Psa 91.11 12. Satan cited this place falsly Mat. 4.6 two wayes First he corrupted the Text he left out part of it Secondly he mis-applyed the Text to the Lord Christ it being onely true of his Members for whom he hath procured this ministery for the Lord Jesus is the head of the Angels Col. 2.18 and â—ardeth them they keep not Christ himselfe they were made by him and for him Col. 1.16 they worship him Rev. 5.11 12. Heb. 1.6 so Isaiah sheweth Isa 6.2.3 they worship him who sent the Prophet Isaiah That it is the Lord Christ whose glory Isaiah saw when he was sent by him John a faithfull interpreter affirmeth Joh. 12 40 41. yea not onely the good Angels worship him but evill Angels also First acknowledge Christ and obey him Mar. 1.27 Secondly they professe Christ and acknowledge him to be the Sonne of God Mar. 1.21 Luke 4.34 Thirdly they worship him Mar. 5.6 Fourthly they pray to him and beseech him Mar. 5.10 Luke 8.28 Fifthly they feare Mar. 5.7 Luke 8.31 Sixthly they believe Jam. 2.19 That
priviledges of the Saints and are bound by baptisme to beleeve on him to love him to obey him to worship him and to glorifie him Where First that we are to be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost is manifest both out of the command of Christ Mat. 28.19 Teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost As also from the continued practise of the Church of God in all ages and places of the Christian World Secondly Baptisme is a seale of the Covenant as Paul calleth circumcision Rom. 4.11 which the Father Sonne and Holy-Ghost doth make with the Church wherein God on his part promiseth to be our God which is our happinesse and we on our part doe promise and oblige our selves to serve him which is our duty Thirdly Baptisme is one Eph. 4.5 Not onely because it is once administred neither is it so onely because it is one seale of one and the same faith in all Nor is it so onely because it maketh all those that are baptized to be one body But principally in regard of the Object it is one and the same Covenant in all which we make with one and the same God The Apostle therefore Eph. 4.5.6 joyneth one Lord one faith one Baptisme and one God together putting Lord and God before and after faith and baptisme It being one Lord and God in whom we believe and one Lord and God in whole Name we are baptized Fourthly we being received into Covenant with God in Baptisme doe professe that God alone can wash away the filth of our sinnes and clense all the pollutions of our soules To which the Apostle seemeth to allude 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God For as Water washeth our bodies so are our soules washed of God the Father by the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ 1 Pet. 1.2 and by the renewing of the Holy-Ghost Tit. 3.5 The Apostle Paul in the former place nameth all three Persons Our God there is the Father in the Name of the Lord Jesus there is the Sonne and by the Spirit there is the Holy-Ghost By the grace benefit and operation of these three we are Washed Justified Sanctified Fifthly in that the Sonne and Holy Ghost are joyned with as in one Covenant with the Father wherein we equally promise Faith Obedience and Worship to them with the Father they therefore are not creatures For first if creatures should have the same Covenant made with them as is with God and that at Gods command This would be in God a giving of his glory to another which God disclaimeth Isai 48.11 secondly we should then confide and trust in a Creature which would be a withdrawing of our hearts from the living God and we should by this meanes bring a curse on us and not a blessing Jer. 17.5 7. thirdly we should then be tyed by Covenant to give Religious worship service and obedience to a Creature which is expresly forbidden Mat. 4.8 and we ought not to give the least Religious worship to them which by nature are no Gods Gal. 4.8 Rev. 19.10 Rev. 22.9 Fourthly we should then be baptized into the Name of Creatures It was a thing that Paul abhorred that any should think he did baptize in his owne Name 1 Cor. 1.13.15 Sixthly we being baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy-Ghost have one and the same Communion with the Father the Sonne and the holy-Holy-Ghost For we have First Communion with the Father 1 Joh. 1.3 Secondly Commmnion with the Sonne 1 Joh. 1.3 Thirdly Communion with the holy-Holy-Ghost 2 Cor. 13. last Phil. 2.1 Seventhly the Name of God in Scripture is used first sometimes for Gods Attributes Psal 9.11 They that know thy Name shall trust in thee and Isai 52.6 My people shall know my Names and againe Psal 91.14 I will set him on high because he hath known my Name We know Gods Attributes but not his Essence we see his back-purts but not his face Exod. 33.23 with Exod. 34.6 7. secondly it is taken sometime for God himself Psal 20.1 The Name of the God of Jaacob defend thee and Pro. 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower a Metonymie of the adjunct for the subject as Cartwright observeth and so likewise it is taken Exod. 23.21 My Name saith God the Father is in him God the Father was in him 2 Cor. 5.19 and he in the Father Joh. 10.38 thirdly it is taken 〈◊〉 Power and Authority The high Priests examining of Peter and John and demanding of them by what Power and Name have ye done this receive this answer from them If ye examine by what meanes this man is made whole Be it known unto you all it is by the name of Jesus Christ â—f Nazareth Act. 4.9.10 fourthly it is taken sometime for the glory of God I have manifested thy Name to the men of the World Job 17.6 and againe Father glorifie thy Name Joh. 12.28 fifthly it is taken sometimes for our faith and confidence in God I come to thee in the Name of the Lord 1 Sam. 17.45 Our Lord Christ who is God manifested in the flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 Joh. 1.14 commandeth us to be baptized in the Name not in the Names Mat. 28.19 He intimateth thereby therefore that there is one Power one God-head one glory one Faith and Confidence one Obligation in Baptisme to this one Jehovah in whose Name we are baptized who is absolutely one in respect of his Essence and Name though Relatively in respect of the Persons he is three The Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost Three are named and yet but one Name of them three teaching us thereby that those three the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost are named which are truly distinct as Relatives one from the other yet they are not three Lords or three Gods but one Lord God whom by Covenant in Baptisme we are to obey and serve and in whose Name we are to sweare CHAP. XII Paul calleth to witnesse the Father the Sonne and the Holy-Ghost swearing by them IT was a Command that God ioyned Israel and annexed to his Law as part of that Honour which Israel owed to him and he required of them Deut. 6.13 Deut. 10.20 Thou shalt feare the Lord thy God and serve him and sweare by his Name Which was not onely required of the Church of the Jewes onely but also of the Church of the Gentiles Isai 45.23 The swearing by them that are no Gods is set down by the Prophet I had almost said as an unpardonable sin Jer. 5.7 How shall I pardon thee for this thy children have forsaken me and sworne by them that are no Gods Yea the Lord ranketh them with Idolaters in reproofe and joyneth them together in punishment Zeph. 1.4 5. that sweare