the reason there follows Verse 27. And hath given â—im that is The Father hath given the Sonne Authority to execute judgement also because he is the Sonne of man That is because he is man and so fit to execute judgement in an outward and visible manner For being man he shall be seen of men when he commeth to judgement Behold he commeth with Clouds and every eye shall see him even they that pierced him Revel 1. 7. Wherefore beloved seeing you look for such things be diligent that you may be found of him in peace without spot and blamelesse 2 Pet. 3. 14. Of the Holy Ghost I beleeve in the Holy Ghost After the Articles concerning the two other Persons of the Trinitie the Father and the Sonne followes this Article concerning the third Person the Holy Ghost This Person in Scripture is called The Spirit 1 John 5. 6. Ephes 5. 18. The Spirit of God and The Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. The Holy Spirit or The * The word Ghost imports as much as Spirit Ghostly Father and ghostly Counsell is as much as spirituall Father and spirituall Counsell Holy Ghost Luke 11. 13. Rom. 5. 5. and 1 John 5. 7. God as God is a Spirit John 4. 24. And so also holy Isai 6. 3. And therefore God the Father is a Holy Spirit and so God the Sonne yet the name is appropriated to the third Person that Person is peculiarly called The Spirit and The Holy Spirit or The Holy Ghost Why the third Person of the Trinitie is peculiarly called the Spirit and the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost The third Person of the Trinity is peculiarly called The Spirit either as being after an ineffable manner breathed forth as it were from the Father and the Sonne or as inspiring the Prophets and Apostles Those holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. And this Person also is peculiarly called Holy as working sanctification and making holy The Father doth sanctifie and so the Sonne but by the Holy Ghost I will put my Spirit within you c. Ezek 36. 27. Whence sanctification is called sanctification of the Spirit 2 Thess 2. 13 because it is wrought by the Spirit And they that are regenerated or borne againe are said to be born of the Spirit Iohn 3. 5 6 8. That the Ghost is God The Holy Ghost is God one and the same God with the Father and the Sonne and therefore as we beleeve in the Father and in the Son so also in the Holy Ghost These three are one 1 John 5. 7. They are three that is three Persons yet one that is one God And that the Holy Ghost is God is evident by that Act. 5. 3 4. Peter said to Ananias Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost Thou hast not lyed unto men but unto God And that we are baptized in the name of the holy Ghost as well as in the name of the Father and of the Sonne according to Christs injunction Matth. 28. 19. This unanswerably proves that as the Father is God and the Sonne God so is the Holy Ghost God also For we may not be Baptized in the name of any meere Creature Were ye baptized in the Name of Paul said Paul 1 Cor. 1. 13. That the holy Ghost is a Person Again the Holy Ghost is a Person not an Attribute as Wisdome Mercy Power and the like but as the Father is a Person hath proper and peculiar subsistence and as the Sonne is a Person so is the Holy Ghost a Person likewise This is clear as by other places of Scripture so by that Matth. 3. 16. where it is said that the Holy Ghost came downe in the likenesse of a Dove For no meere Attribute nothing but a Person can assume a bodily shape wherein to appeare and shew it self Sometimes indeed the Holy Ghost is put for the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost As Act. 19. 2. when Paul asked some if they had received the Holy Ghost they answered We have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost that is any such extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost which in those Primitive times were bestowed upon Beleevers But the Holy Ghost properly taken is a Person That the holy Ghost is a Person distinct froÌ„ the Father and the Sonne and proceedeth from them both Again the Holy Ghost is a Person distinct from the Father and the Sonne They are three 1 John 5. 7. The Holy Ghost is called another to wit besides the Father and the Sonne John 14. 16 17. Lastly the Holy Ghost is a Person proceeding from the Father from the Son This is proved before pag. 14 Our care must be that we have the communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Corinth 13. 14. That the Holy Ghost be shed abroad in our hearts Rom. 5. 5. That we be filled with the Spirit Ephes 5. 18. that is with the sanctifying graces of the Spirit Grow in grace 2 Pet. 3. 18. Of the holy Catholike Church The Holy Catholike Church That is I beleeve the holy Catholike Church not in the Holy Catholike Church as in the Holy Ghost wee must beleeve onely in God that is trust onely in him as before noted But we must beleeve that there is a Holy Catholike Church And what is that What is meant by the holy Catholike Church What is meant by Church First by Church here in the Creed and so in the Scripture is not meant that which we commonly call the Church to wit the place where the people of God assemble and meet together to worship God but the people of God themselves are meant by the Church Great fear came upon all the Church Act. 5. 11. There was a great persecution against the Church Act. 8. 1. The Church is the company of such as God doth call out of the estate of sinne and misery into the estate of grace and salvation The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved Acts 2. 47. The Church militant the Church triumphant The Church is partly upon earth and partly in heaven That part of the Church which is upon earth is called The Church militant that is in warfare warring against the world the flesh and the Devill Fight the good fight of Faith saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 6. 12. It concerns every member of the Church here upon earth That part of the Church which is in Heaven is called the Church triumphant because it consists of those who have overcome their spirituall adversaries which here they had to encounter and now triumph over them I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me the Crown of righteousnesse c. said the Apostle when his departure out of this world was at hand 2 Tim. 4. 6 7 8. The Church visible and the
Vicegerents I have said ye are gods Psa 82. 6. Thou shalt not revile the gods Exod. 22. 28. But truly and properly so called there is but one God I am God and there is none else Isa 45. 22. Thou shalt have none other gods before me Exod. 20. 3. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world that is no such thing as an Idolater takes it to be and that there is none other God but one For though there be that are called gods c. yet unto us there is but one God c. 1 Cor. 8. 4 5 6. That God is a Spirit infinite eternall God truly and properly so called is a Spirit Iohn 4. 24. And not onely a Spirit for so the souls of men and Angels also are spirits Hebr. 12. 23. 1. 14. but he is an immense and infinite Spirit which none else is Do not I the Lord fill heaven and earth Ier. 23. 24. Yea the heaven even the heaven of heavens cannot contain him 1 King 8. 27. God also is an eternall Spirit which neither the soul of man nor an Angel is He is the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity Isa 57. 15. The name of Father how attributed unto God The Father Sometimes the name of Father being attributed unto God is taken essentially and is common to the whole Trinitie Have we not all one Father hath not one God created us Mal. 2. 10. I will be a Father unto you and you shall be my sonnes and daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 18. Sometimes it is taken personally and belongs onely to the first Person of the Trinity who is called the Father in respect of the second Person called the Sonne Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Sonne Iesus Christ 1 Iohn 1. 3. Thus is the word Father here taken as appears by that which follows And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne c. The whole Trinity is our Father but onely the first person of the Trinitie is Christs Father When it is here said I beleeve in God the Father it is not meant that the first Person onely the Father is God as if the Sonne were not God and the Holy Ghost God also The Father how the first Person of the Trinity but onely the Father is first mentioned as being the first Person of the three the first Person I say not in time nor in dignity for they are all co-eternall and co-equall but in order and proceeding For the Father is of himself not proceeding from any other but the Sonn proceedeth from the Father and the Holy Ghost both from the Father and from the Sonne I proceeded forth and came from God saith Christ Iohn 8. 42. The Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father Iohn 15. 26. And so the Spirit also proceedeth from the Sonne and is therefore called the Spirit of the Sonne Galath 4. 6. and is said to be sent by the Sonne Whom I will send saith Christ speaking of the Spirit or Holy Ghost Iohn 15. 26. which argues that the Holy Ghost doth proceed from the Sonne hath the Divine Nature communicated unto him by the Sonne as well as by the Father even as the Sonne is said to be sent by the Father Iohn 3. 16. and in other places because hee doth proceed from the Father and hath the Divine Nature communicated to him by the Father But the Father is never said to be sent either by the Sonne or by the Holy Ghost as not proceeding either from the one or frō the other Thus then the Father is God and so is the Son and so the Holy Ghost all one and the same God though severall and distinct Persons These three are one 1 Ioh. 5. 7. They are three and yet one three Persons yet one God As Persons they differ each from other as God they are the same one with another This is a great Mysterie which though we cannot comprehend as being above reason yet we must beleeve as being revealed in the Scripture As the Father is Almighty so is the Son and the Holy Ghost also Almighty This attribute Almighty is not peculiar to the first Person the Father but is common to all the three Persons As the Father is Almighty so is the Sonne and so the Holy Ghost also For God as God is Almighty and therefore each Person of the Trinitie being God is Almighty Yet as Athanasius saith there are not three Almighties but one Almighty For the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost are one and the same God and so one and the same Almighty That God is Almighty and how he is Almighty Now that God is Almighty is clear by Scripture I am God Almighty saith he Gen. 17. 1. God Almighty blesse thee said Isaac to Iacob Gen. 28. 3. God is stiled The Almighty Ruth 1. 20. 21. The Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me said Naomi And again The Almighty hath testified against me God is Almighty in that he can do all things whatsoever he pleaseth With God nothing shall bee unpossible Luke 1. 37. True it is God cannot lie Tit. 1. 2. He cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. But this doth not derogate from his Almightinesse because these things to lie to deny himself and the like note imperfection and to doe them argues weaknesse and not Power How weak is thine heart saith the Lord seeing thou dost all these things Ezek. 16. 30. God being Almightie 1 Let us fear to offend him Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie are we stronger then he 1 Corinth 10. 22. Who ever hardened himself against him and prospered Iob 9. 4. 2. Let us with boldnesse flie unto him and trust in him O Lord God of our Fathers said Iehoshaphat Art not thou God in heaven and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen and in thine hand is there not power and might so that none is able to withstand thee 2 Chron. 20. 6. And verse 12. O our God wilt thou not judge them for wee have no might against this great Company that commeth against us neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon thee So Paul I know said he whom I have beleeved and that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. How God made heaven earth Maker of heaven and earth Creatour of heaven and earth In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth Gen. 1. 1. To create is as much as to make of nothing so God made heaven and earth By faith we understand that the world was framed by the Word of God the Word of his power his most powerfull Will Pleasure so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appeare Heb. 11. 3. What is meant by heaven and earth Heaven and Earth These two being the principall parts of the world are put for the whole
Lord Jesus Christ who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us 1 Pet. 1. 3 4. 3. To assure us of our resurrection For the resurrection of the Members depends upon the resurrection of the Head the resurrection of Christians depends upon Christs Resurrection See after upon those words The resurrection of the body Quest But if Christ rose the third day to wit after that he dyed how is it said that he should be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth that is in the grave Matth. 12. 40. Answ That is not so to be understood as if Christ were three dayes and three nights compleat in the grave but onely some part of three dayes and three nights He dyed as the Evangelists shew the day before the Jewish Sabbath that is on Friday as we call it in the afternoon and was buryed the same day That part of the day stands for the whole day and also the night going before which the Jews beginning their naturall day that consists of 24 hours at Evening Levit. 23. 32. did belong unto it Then he rested in the grave all the night following and the next day which we call Saturday And the night after hee also remained in the grave rising early in the Morning on Sunday as we call it Now together with that night is rekoned the day following to which it belonged and so taking the part for the whole as sometimes it is taken Christ was three dayes and three nights in the grave though otherwise hee was little above two nights and one day in it After this manner is it said that Esther and the Jewes did fast three dayes and three nights Esth 4. 16. for the Fast was ended on the third day as is clear by Esthers putting on her royall apparell and addressing her selfe to the King on that day Esther 5. 1. As Christ rose from the dead corporally so must we spiritually wee must rise from the death of sinne to the life of grace Awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Ephes 5. 14. We are buryed with him by Baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. And Vers 11. Likewise reckon ye your selves dead indeed unto sinne but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And Col. 2. 12. Buryed with him by Baptisme wherein also you are risen with him c. And Col. 3. 1. If ye then be risen with Christ seeke those things which are above where Jesus Christ sitteth at the right hand of God He ascended into heaven This is the second step of Christs exaltation That Christ ascended into heaven the Scripture testifies Mark 16. 19. Luke 24. 51. Acts 1. 9. Of Christs Ascension into Heaven It was requisite that Christ should ascend into heaven Reasons why Christ ascended into Heaven First because he came down from heaven not that he brought his body from heaven as some Hereticks imagined but in that by his Incarnation he made himself manifest upon earth whereas before he onely kept residence as it were in heaven The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten Sonne of God c. Iohn 1. 14. In this respect Christ is called The Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 47. And it s said that he came down from Heaven John 1. 13. Now as Christ thus came down from heaven so having finished the worke for which he came it was meet hee should return to heaven I came forth sayes Christ from the Father and am come into the world again I leave the world and go to the Father John 16. 28. And speaking to his Father I have glorified thee on earth said he I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do And now O Father glorifie me with thine ownself with the glory which I had with thee before the World was Iohn 17. 4 5. Secondly that it might appeare that his Kingdome is not of this world as he said John 18. 36. Thirdly that hee might shew himself to triumph over sinn death and him that had the power of death that is the Devill Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive Psal 68. 18. That was spoken of Christ as the Apostle sheweth Ephes 4. 8. To lead captivitie captive is as much as to lead a multitude of Captives as appears by Iudges 5. 12. Fourthly that he might send down the Spirit and inrich his Church with the gifts and graces of the Spirit Thou hast ascended on high c. thou hast received gifts for men Psal 68. 18. When hee ascended up on high c. he gave gifts unto men Ephes 4. 8. The holy Ghost was not yet given to wit in such measure as afterward because that Iesus was not yet glorified Iohn 7. 39. It is expedient for you that I go away for if I goe not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you said Christ to his Disciples Iohn 16. 7. Fiftly that having offered himself a Sacrifice for us on the Crosse he might present himselfe likewise unto God in heaven and make intercession for us For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands which are the figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us Hebr. 9. 24. 6. That he might make way for us to ascend into heaven also I go to prepare a place for you said he to his Disciples John 14. 2. Whither the forerunner is for us entred even Jesus c. Heb. 6. 20. He is called the forerunner because he going before and preparing the way we also in due time shall follow after But in the mean time in our hearts and affections we must ascend into heaven whiles in respect of our bodies wee are here upon earth Set your affections on things above not on things on the â—arth Col. 3. 2. For our câ—nveâ—sâ—tion is in heaven Phil. 3. 20. Of Christs sitting at the right hand of God And sitteth on the right hand of God This is the highest step of Christs exaltation It is expresly mentioned Mark 16. 19. Hebr. 1. 3. and in other places But how is Christ said to sit And how on the right hand of God First for sitting it is not here taken properly as it imports such a distinct kinde of bodily posture What is meant by sitting It is not the intent of the Holy Ghost in the Scripture to shew what bodily posture now in heaven Christ useth to what purpose were it for us to know that But to sit we know is a posture of
nigh unto all that call upon him even to all that call upon him in truth Psa 145. 18. The Saints have communion with Christ 2. The Saints have communion with Christ he being their Head they his Members Christ is the Head of the Church Ephe. 5. 23. We are members of his bodie c. Ephes 5. 30. They have the communion of his body and of his blood 1 Corinth 10. 16. not onely a Sacramentall communion which the wicked may have by receiving the outward Sacrament but a reall although a spirituall communion by faith For Christ doth dwell in their hearts by faith Ephes 3. 17. By faith they eat the flesh of Christ and drink his blood Iohn 6. 53 54. with 57. By Christ thorow faith in him they have accesse unto God and acceptance with God Rom. 5. 1 2. By him they have confidence to make known their requests unto God and assurance to obtain of God whatsoever is requisite and needfull for them Ephes 3. 12. Iohn 16. 23. The Saints in heaven have more immediate and full communion with God and with Christ being more immediately and fully joyned unto them 2 Cor. 5. 6 7. Phil. 1. 23. The Saints have communion one with another 3. The Saints have communion one with another as having near relation one to another being Children of one and the same Father and Members of one and the same Bodie and having near conjunction one with another as being indued with one and the same Spirit Gal. 3. 26. and 1 Cor. 12. 27. Ephes 4. 4. and 1 Corinth 12. 13. The Saints have the communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13. 14. the fellowship of the Spirit Phil. 2. 1. they must needs therefore have communion and fellowship one with another As for the Saints in heaven what communion they have one with another the Scripture speaking sparingly we must not be overbold to enquire onely thus much is unquestionable that they have some communion in that kinde rejoycing one in anothers happinesse and glorifying God one for another For Charity never faileth 1 Cor. 13. 8. yea in the Saints in heaven it is made perfect And it rejoyceth not in iniquity but in the truth 1 Cor. 13 6. There being such a distance betwixt the Saints in heaven and the Saints on earth there can be no such communion betwixt them as they of the Church of Rome pretend to wit that the Saints in heaven should pray particularly for the Saints on earth and procure those good things for them that they stand in need of and that the saints on earth should pray unto the Saints in heaven and make them Advocates and Mediatours whereby to prevaile with God For besides that this is most injurious as they practise it unto God and unto Christ we being onely to pray unto God in the name and mediation of Jesus Christ Psalm 50. 15. Matth. 6. 9. Iohn 16. 23. 1 Tim. 2. 5. Besides this I say the Saints in heaven are not acquainted with the particular estate of the Saints on earth Iob 14. 21. And therefore there can be no such communion betwixt them although in respect of that which was said before of charity we cannot but conceive that the Saints in heaven do in generall think on the Saints on earth and wish them the same happinesse which they have obtained And so the Saints on earth blesse God for the Saints in Heaven thinke and speak honourably of them and imitate the vertues that were in them Prov. 10. 7. Luke 1. 48. Heb. 6. 12. and 13. 7. As for the Saints on earth they have communion among themselves so as to consider one another and to provoke unto love and good works Hebr. 10. 24. to teach and admonish one another Col. 3. 16. to comfort one another 1 Thess 4. 18. to pray one for another Iames 5. 15. to succour and releeve one another as every one hath received the gift so to minister the same one to another c. 1 Pet. 4. 10. of forgivenesse of sinnes The forgivenesse of sinnes This benefit is peculiar to the Church The Prophet speaking of Sion saith The people that dwell therein shall have their sinnes forgiven Isai 32. 24. It is a part of the Covenant that God hath made with his people that he will forgive their iniquity c. Ier. 31. 33. The Saints themselves even the best upon earth have need of it If thou Lord shouldest mark iniquities Lord who should stand But there is forgivenesse with thee c Psal 130. 34. See Psal 32. 1 2. What sin is and the severall kindes of it Sinne is a transgression of the Law 1 Iohn 3. 4. It is either originall or actuall Originall sin is that which every one brings with him into the world Adam by his fall losing that righteousnesse in which he was created and conveyng sinne and corruption into all that by naturall generation proceed from him Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one Iob 14. 4. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sinne did my mother conceive me Ps 51. 5. By one man to wit Adam sinne entred into the World that is into all mankinde Rom. 5. 12. Actuall sinne is that which every one makes himself guilty of in his life and conversation All like sheep have gone astray Isa 53 6. Actuall sinne is either a sinne of commission or of omission A sin of commission is when that which is forbidden is committed a sinne of omission is when that which is commanded is omitted There are many other distinctions of sin which it were too tedious and not necessary to rehearse What forgivenesse of sinne is how expressed in Scripture Forgivenesse of sinne is a not imputing of it God was in Christriconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them 2 Cor. 5. 19. It is called a covering of sin Blessed is the man whose iniquity is forgiven and whose sinne is covered Psal 32. 1. And a blotting out of sinne According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions Psal 51. 1. Other such like expressions also there are whereby forgivenesse of sinnes is set forth in the Scripture To forgive sin belongs only unto God Onely God can forgive sinne As sinne is committed against man as it is an injury done unto him so he may and ought to forgive it Luke 17. 3 4. If thy brother trespasse against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him And if be trespasse against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turne again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Ministers also may forgive sinnes declaratively so as to preach and publish forgivenesse of sinnes to such as repent and beleeve Whose soever sinnes ye remit they are remitted c. John 20. 23. Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that through this man Christ is preached unto you forgivenesse of sinnes Act. 13. 38.