can be but one God How One single pure and perfect Sec. 9. Why said to have eyes and hands to be angry and grieved c. He admits no bodily likeness CHAP. III. Concerning God in the Trinity of Persons Sec. 1. WHat the Knowledge of God from a natural light What from a light supernatural Who are the three Persons and what a Person is Sec. 2. A finite understanding not possibly able to comprehend this infinite Mystery Not to be illustrated by any Instances Sec. 3. The highest pitch of Reasons apprehension Sec. 4. Reason directing to Faith What and how a Trinity of Persons in the Vnity of the Godhead Sec. 5. The Son of God and the Holy Ghost firmly proved Sec. 6. How the Persons are distinguished Sec. 7. How Trinity and Person are found in Scripture What a subsistence is Sec. 8. How the Father is the first Person How each Person is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sec. 9. How the essence and attributes of the Godhead are communicated Sec. 10. The properties of the Persons incommunicable CHAP. IV. Concerning Gods Knowledg Sec. 1. HOw God knoweth all things Sec. 2. Gods foreknowledg how and what it is Not the cause of things and why Sec. 3. How all things depend upon Gods Will preordaining not his Knowledg foreseeing Yet Gods fore-knowledg depends not upon the creatures future existence Before and after past and to come relate not to God Sec. 4. But is in the creature This aptly illustrated Sec. 5. God knowing things to come and past doth it in one and the same act of Knowledg This act eternal So no change in God Sec. 6. No contingency in respect of Gods fore-knowledg Yet in the secondary causes Sec. 7. All future events are fore-known of God His fore-knowledg infallible Sec. 8. How applied unto the Elect in Scripture CHAP V. Concerning Gods Will. Sec. 1. GOds Will one and absolutely free Distinguish'd into his will secret and revealed of sign and of good pleasure Sec. 2. What his secret will What his revealed will Sec. 3. The Will of Gods good pleasure hath its reason not its cause Sec. 4. Gods glory the final cause of what he wils but not of his will How the impulsive cause of Gods will to be understood in Theology Sec. 5 6. The execution of Gods will admits several causes the volition not any what the volition and what the execution is Sec. 7. God wils not sin and why Sec. 8. The purpose of Gods will doth not abolish but establish the liberty of mans will what the necessity of being from the immutability of Gods will Sec. 9. How Gods secret will becomes revealed by his word and by his works How Gods word is called his will Sec. 10. How they agree in a sweet harmony So to be interpreted as that ille harmony be preserved Sec. 11. How Gods revealed will argues with that of his good pleasure when he wils all men to be holy Sec. 12. Where also he commands Abraham to sacrifice his Son Isaac Sec. 13. How the promises and threatnings in Gods revealed will which are conditional de agree with Gods secret will which is absolute Sec. 14. What the true meaning of the conditions declared CHAP. VI. Concerning Gods Decrees Power and Manner of Working Sec. 1. GOd the primary Cause and supreme Agent in his Vnderstanding Will and Power What his Decree what his Work Sec. 2. What his absolute power How limited by his will Sec. 3. Why and how said to be omnipotent Sec. 4. There is no overcoming Gods power no resisting his will what he acts in time he hath decreed from eternity Sec. 5. How the creatures are in God before they are in themselves What the Counsel of God in his decrees Sec. 6. How the whole Trinity is one entire cause What their diverse manner of working Sec. 7. How some one action is appropriate to some one person Sec. 8. The firm relation between Gods decrees and his works God hath not decreed sin though he hath decreed to permit sin What the effectual decree accompanying the permissive Sec. 9. The purpose of Gods decree imposeth no forcible necessity but bringeth an infallible certainty to all Agents and Events CHAP. VII Concerning the Works of Creation Sec. 1. GOd the Creator of all things as an absolute and free Agent Sec. 2. Creation the Work of the whole Trinity as one entire cause Why of God as a free and all-sufficient cause Sec. 3. Observ'd in the Work of Creation 1 The command of Gods Power 2 The approbation of his Goodness 3 The ordination of his wisdom 4 The declaration of his Authority Sec. 4. The immediate Creation what and of whom The mediate Creation what and of whom Sec. 5. Mans partaking of both Sec. 6. How and why called the lesser world Sec. 7. What the first Heaven what the second Heaven What the third Heaven Sec. 8. What the influences And what the predictions of the heavenly bodies Sec. 9. The creation of man and the forming of woman How God rested the seventh day Sec. 10. Gods wisdom in the Order of his creation Sec. 11. Every thing created perfect in its kinde Sec. 12. In his works God manifests his glory 1 The glory of his Power 2 Of his Goodness 3 Of his Wisdom 4 Of his Eternity Sec. 13. The light of nature directs to the worship of God as the Creator The seventh day the Sabbath How long to continue Sec. 14. How the Creation is an object of our faith CHAP. VIII Concerning the Providence of God Sec. 1. ALL things subordinate to Gods will In order either to his Meâ—cy or his Justice The wisdom and power of his Providence Infallably in its administrations Sec. 2. The Infallibility of Gods Providence doth not take away the use of means but confiâ—ms it Sec. 3. To deny Gods Providence is atheism to despise the use of means is profaneness to establish both is truth and righteousness to what end is the use of means Sec. 4. The course of nature declares the Providence of God this aptly illustrated Sec. 5. Gods Providence is no naked view but an actual administration What Gods Providence is in its general concourse How absolutely necessary for the creatures preservation Sec. 6. This aptly illustrated Sec. 7. The extent of Gods Providence Why it makes use of means Sec. 8. The seeming disorder in the world doth advance the glory of Gods Providence and assure the general Judgment of the last day Sec. 9. Gods Providence doth order sinful actions without any the least share in the sin This illustrated Sec. 10. That Gods Providence extends to what is sinful is not by a meer permission but by a powerful and wise ordination Wicked Instruments are proper Agents and how Sec. 11. How the Executioners of Gods Justice and in that Execution how guilty of sin The wonder of Gods Providence in respect of wicked mindes Sec. 12. Gods Providence imposeth no compelling force but establisheth the nature of all causes contingent
1.15 God is not to be imagined like any thing that is visible and bodily CHAP. III. Concerning God in the Trinity of Persons What the knowledg of God from a natural sight § 1. THE Knowledg of God which is from the a Rom. 1 19 20 light of Nature doth take it's rise from sense and can ascend no higher then it is supported nor go any further then it is led by sensible objects which give us no clearer Knowledg of God then the effects do of their cause namely that He is and that He is not such as they are but far excelling them in Essence and in Attributes as not being compounded not depending not finite not mutable and the like But the Knowledg of God which is from a Supernatural light What from a light Supernatural that is meerly by divine b Joh. 1.18 Exod. 33.23 Revelation as that God is the c Eph. 1.2 3. Mat. 6.9 Father of Christ and of his Church the d Gen. 15.1 Heb. 11.6 Reward of the Faithful the e Psal 68.20 Isa 12.2 Jer. 3.23 Salvation of Israel and the like Yea such is our Knowledg of God through the apprehension of Faith in the Glorious Mystery of the Blessed Trinity whereby we beleeve the same God which is f Deut. 6.4 Isa 45.5 1 Cor. 8.4.6 One in nature or being Who are the three Persons and what a Person is is also g Gen. 1.26 and 11.7 8. Isa 6.3 63. ver 7 9 10. Mat. 3.16 17. and 28.19 2 Cor. 13 14. 1 John 5.7 Three in Persons or manner of subsisting Father Son and Holy Ghost which Three Persons do not divide the Unity into parts but distinguish the Trinity by their properties § 2. A finite Vnderstanding not possiby able to comprehend this infinite mystery And here we acknowledg it impossible that a finite understanding should comprehend that mystery which is infinite in its Glory and therefore when the minde soars high to conceive the truth of the Unity it is dazled with the glory of the Trinity and when it would conceive the mystery of the Trinity it is overcome with the glory of the Unity And to illustrate this mystery with instances is to shadow out the light with colours Not to be illustrated by any Instances though the instances are that of the same Sun in its body beams and light the same water in its fountain spring and river yea the same soul in its understanding memory and will § 3. This is as high as Reason will reach The highest pitch of Reason's apprehension God is an infinite being having in himself a power to be which begets a Knowledg that he is and from both proceeds a love of that knowledg and power of being This infinite Being is equal and one in all these Relations yet the Relations distinguish'd in themselves as distinct manners of the Beings subsistence Thus the Father Son and Holy Ghost three distinct subsistences of one infinite Essence three distinct Persons of one eternal Godhead the Father as the power of the Godhead begets the Son the Son as the wisdom of that Godhead is begotten of the Father and the Holy Ghost as the Love of both proceeds from the Father and the Son And as that power never was without that knowledge nor that power and knowledg without that love so nor ever was the Father without the Son nor the Father and the Son without the Holy Ghost And as that Knowledge is equal to the Power and the Love equal to both so the Son is equal to the Father and the Holy Ghost equal to the Father and the Son § 4. Now though Reason cannot instruct us to know what is hid Reason directing to Faith yet it doth direct us to beleeve what is revealed concerning this mystery For what more reasonable then this that what we cannot attain by a Natural Knowledge we should receive by a Divine Faith when revealed unto us by God in his Word Which Word teacheth us What and how a Trinity of Persons in the Vnity of the Godhead that the three Persons in the Godhead are not three parts of God but c John 10.30 1 Tim. 1.17 One onely God The d Eph. 1.3 1 Pet. 1.3 Father God the e John 1.1 Heb. 1.2 3. 1 John 5 10. Son God and the f Acts 5.3 4. Holy Ghost God and yet not g Isa 6.3 Rev. 4.8 three Gods but one God all the three Persons being h Gen. 1.26 John 5.18 Phil. 2.6 Coessential and Coequal § 5. That the Son is God The Son God and the Holy Ghost God firmly proved and the Holy Ghost is God is made evident to the eye of Faith from these testimonies of sacred Scriptures which give them the a Jer. 23.6 1 John 5.6 Rom. 9 5. Acts 28.25 Tit. 2.13 1 Cor. 3.16 Proper Names the b Isa 9.6 Heb. 9.14 Phil. 3.21 Psal 13.9 7. John 21.17 1 Cor. 2.10 11 Essential Attributes 2 Cor. 13 14. the c Heb. 1 23. Job 26.13 and 33.4 Eph. 4.8.11 1 Cor. 12.11 Mat. 12.28 John 6.54 Rom 8.11 Divine operations and the d H b 1.6 1 Cor 6.19 Psal 2.12 Eph. 4.30 Mat 28.19 Holy worship of God § 6. In this Trinity the Godhead is not divided How the Persons are distinguished but the Persons are distinguished the Godhead is not divided in it's essence but the a Isa 61.1 John 8.16 17 18. John 14.26 and 15.26 Persons distinguished by their properties The b Psal 2.7 Heb. 1.5 Father begetting the c John 1.14 Heb. 1.6 Son begotten and the d John 15.26 Gal. 4.6 Holy Ghost proceeding which properties do not make them different Beeings but one and the same Being in a diverse manner of subsisting God begetting is the Father God begotten is the Son and God proceeding is the Holy Ghost Again the Father is God begetting the Son the Son is God begotten of the Father and the Holy Ghost is God proceeding from both the Father and the Son § 7. Though the Word Trinity and Person are not found literally exprest How Trinity and Person are found in Scripture yet are they found plainly implyed in Text of a Mat. 28.19 John 14.16 Ephes 2.18 sacred Scripture Yea seeing St. John doth tell us of God that he b 1 John 5.7 is Three the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost who shall question the word Trinity numerus numeratus in the abstract who reads the word Three numerus numerans in the concrete Which Three bearing record most firm it is by a Trinity of testimonies which doth plainly intimate a Trinity of subsistences What a Subsistence is and what a subsistence is St. Paul resolves us when he saith of the Son that he is c Heb. 1.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the express Image of his Fathers Subsistence where the word Subsistence doth truly and fully
then the stronger apprehensions of those by whom he is instructed and therefore he hath desired and endeavoured so to express himself that he might not amaze but inform not puzzle but teach studying brevity and clearness which h Brevis esse laboro obscurus fio Hor. seldome meet in one subject especially where the matter is mysterious brevity as an advantage to memory and clearness as an help to the understanding both conducing much to an instructing and establishing in the Truth If any demand a reason of the Authors composing this Treatise this answer will be satisfactory if that demand be not too supercilious that the publick behoofe did put him upon it for among the many excellent Works compos'd by our Churches Heroes we have not one Systeme of Divinity in al parts consenting with her judgment and practice but what hath been of this kinde hath had a taste of the vessel some private opinions i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys in Gen. Hom. 4. domestica judicia as Tertullian calls them or at best some forraign Resolves hath been intermix'd with our Churches more pure and perfect determinations Upon observation whereof the Author design'd his studies to do with Christian Theology as Florus with the Roman History k Flor. Epit. Rer. Rom. l. 1. In brevi tabella totam ejus imaginem amplecti draw its whole pourtraiture in a small Table comprise its large Body in a short Volume therein delivering the whole and entire judgment of our Church confirmed from testimony of sacred Scripture and illustrated by argument of divine Reason This whole Work bearing the Title of Sion's Prospect he hath divided into two Parts as its first and second View the First is now published the second reserved till its more fit oportunity for publication which in a correspondency of Method Scripture Reason Brevity and clearness doth treat of those several Heads which concern that peculiar part of Gods Providence over the Church of his Elect viZ. Concerning Election and Predestination concerning Christ in the Person and in the office of Mediator concerning the Church concerning the Covenant of Grace concerning the divers Administrations of this Covenant before the Law under the Law and under the Gospel c. That this former part published doth prevent that latter part design'd for publication the Author gives this most full and satisfactory Reason that he would gladly hereby prompt an able judgment and pen to undertake the task rather then do it himself lest through weakness and insufficiency in those grand Mysteries of the Gospel he should l Veritatem defendendo concutere fidem explicando obscurate shake the Truth in defending it and obscure the faith in explaining it Wherefore if what he hath already done may occasionally stir up some eminent person in an holy emulation of pious zeal to undertake so useful and honourable a Work He shall desist from his further Enterprise and rest very well satisfied yea very much joy'd with this Blessing from God that he hath given breath to anothers divine flame Otherwise if he finde the incouragement of acceptance and be confirmed in some hopes of publick benefit to the Church rather then this so much necessary and so much desired work be not done at all He will by the assistance of Gods Spirit finish and publish what is now under his hand tuneing the Instrument to the best of his skill thereby happily provoking some more dextrous hand and more accurate Artist to perfect the harmony If any man shall Critically question or enviously quarrel at the Authors present undertaking be thou Courteous Reader so far his Advocate as to plead in his behalf that it is not his ambition to be expos'd publick to the world but to be accepted of private Friends to whom especially he hath devoted the present service of the Press and if this particular service to some few Friends shall by a gratious dispensation of divine Goodness be extended as a general benefit to the whole Church it will be an additional blessing as much beyond his own hope as it is above anothers envy and well may the blessing be beyond his hope for the attainment who is himself so far short of the blessing by his unworthiness and therefore doth he the more earnestly beg the benefit of thy Prayers if not as a return of gratitude for his service yet as a boon of charity to his soul who is from his soul in all Christian and Ministerial offices Thine faithfully devoted ROBERT MOSSOM The SYLLABUS To the TREATISE CHAP. I. Concerning the Holy Scriptures Sect. 1 REason arguing from Scripture for the Scriptures Sect. 2 The Knowledge of God and his worship by Revelation This Revelation either with the Jews or with the Christians Sect. 3. The Church of the Jewes enquired into by Reason Sect. 4. Reason leads from the Church of the Jews to the Church of the Christians with the Church of Christ is found the word of God as the Revelation of his will Sect. 5. The word of God is the holy Scriptures in the books of the old Testament and the new What Editions are Authentick Translations in the vulgar tongue allowed Sect. 6. The Apocrypha why so called Why not canonical The Old Testament received from the Jews Sect. 7. The Authority of the Scripture is not from the Church Sect. 8. The Authority of the Church is from Christ by the Scriptures Sect. 9. The Tradition of the Church leadeth to the Scriptures The excellencie◠of the writings effect the mind The Spirit convinceth of the Truth Sect. 10. A moral perswasion from the Church and the letter a divine belief from the Spirit Sect. 11. Why the Scriptures are not discernable by their own light without the Spirit Sect. 12. What and from whence the Authority of the Scriptures Their sufficiency Their perfection Sec. 13. How the Rule of our faith Such to the end of the World Sec. 14. Particular Revelations not now to be expected Sec. 15. What received as the Truth by the Church What left to the prudence of Governors and to what end Sec. 16. In what the Scriptures are plain and in what hard to be understood How to be Interpreted What the Analogy of Faith Sec. 17. The duty of Christians in the use of the Scriptures Their fulness of heavenly Doctrine How a perfect form of Institution CHAP. II. Concerning God in the Unity of Essence Sec. 1. WHy the nature of God is not to be comprehended by the understanding of Man How the incomprehensible God is apprehended by faith Sec. 2. How God is described in Scripture the Names of God Sec. 3. The description of God according to his names Sec. 4. Further described by his Attributes The first and principal Sec. 5. Why incommunicable to the creatures Sec. 6. The Attributes communicable to the creatures How communicable Sec. 7. Gods essential attributes his one entire Essence how distinguished why diversly express'd in different names Sec. 8. Why there
of sin into that against God against our Neighbours and against our Selves How all sin is against God how said to be against our Neighbours and our Selves The three-fold order which God hath established amongst men The threefold inordinacy in breach of this order making three kindes of sin Sec. 14. What the distinction of sin into that of infirmity of ignorance and of malice From whence this distinction is taken What is the inordinacy of the sensitive appetite what the inordinacy of the understanding what the inordinacy of the will When a sin of infirmity is when a sin of ignorance when a sin of malice Sec. 15. How the sensitive appetite doth beget an inordinacy in the will Which are the sins of infirmity Sec. 16. Why sins of sudden and inordinate passion are said to be sins of infirmity Sec. 17. What passions do excuse wholly from sin and what do not How reason ought to moderate passion Sec. 18. What is the office of the understanding When guilty of that ignorance which is sin and when guilty of those sins which are of ignorance Sec. 19. What ignorance doth not and what ignorance doth make the sin What things a man is capable of knowing but not bound to know what things a man is neither bound to know nor capable of knowing in all these ignorance rather a nescience is not sinful Sec 20. What ignorance doth excuse from sin somewhat excuse not wholly acquit illustrated by instance Sec. 21. When sin cannot be excused by any ignorance what an affected ignorance is and how it aggravates the sin Sec. 22. What ignorance is indirectly voluntary how it self sin yet the sins issuing from it lessened in their guilt and why Sec. 23. How the sin of malice is rightly discern'd How men are said to sin wilfully and against conscience Sec. 24 That the will doth not necessarily follow the right judgment of the understanding cleerly prooved Especially from the work of regeneration in which the will is renewed as well as the understanding enlightned Sec. 25. How we may distinguish sins of infirmity from sins of malice Sec. 26. What the distinction of sin into that of mortal and venial is no sin venial in its nature and why All sin is directly against not any meerly besides the law which incurring the guilt of eternal death cannot be expiated by temporal punishment Sec. 27. In what all sins are mortal yet not all equal How some sins mortal and some venial from whence we are to take the just weight of sins guilt what the guilt of the least sin without Christ Sec. 28. Though all sin be mortal yet most especially the sin against the Holy Ghost What the sin against the Holy Ghost is not Sec. 29. What it is As in the Pharisees As in Julian Why not now to be discovered by us Sec. 30. Why called the sin against the Holy Ghost why this sin shall not be forgiven Sec. 31. Sins against Conscience lead the way to this sin against the Holy Ghost How an erroneous conscience entangles in sin but bindes not to what is sinful Sec. 32. An erroneous conscience may somewhat excuse but cannot wholly acquit and why What is the entanglement of an erroneous conscience CHAP. XV. Concerning the State of man fallen Sec. 1. THe original of all mans misery is in original sin and how Sec. 2. Adams disobedience imputed makes lyable to the punishment inflicted which punishment is death Sec. 3. In what this death doth formally consist In what it doth materially consist Sec. 4. This death is spiritual corporal and eternal What this sp ritual death is Sec. 5. What are the relicks of mans primitive estate in the estate of man fallen In respect of his understanding In respect of his will In respect of his conscience and in respect of his affections Sec. 6. The soul in mans fall is whole in its natural essence but spoil'd of its spiritual habits Thereby disabled for any spiritual good Sec. 7. What freedom the will hath lost by the fall and what it retains after the fall What liberty of will remains in the vilest Reprobate or Devil Sec. 8. How God doth turn and incline the wils of men without any forcibly compelling Why the exhortations c. of Gods word are not in vain in respect of the wicked Sec. 9. By multiplying his sin man aggravates his punishment and how in spirituals Sec. 10. What the corporal death and how begun Sec. 11. How and when finished Sec. 12. What the eternal death In its punishment of loss and of sense Sec. 13. What the punishment of loss is Sec 14. What the punishment of sense is Sec. 15. How the punishment of the damned is infinite as well as eternal Sec. 16. That wrath which comes by original sin is aggravated by mans actual transgression the full measure is at the day of judgment and how Sec. 17. The estate of man fallen summarily describ'd No salvation by the law or first covenant of works So that without Redemption by a Mediator Adam and his posterity must inevitably perish in their sin SION'S PROSPECT In it's FIRST VIEW CHAP. I. Concerning the Holy SCRIPTURES SEeing Grace doth not destroy but exalt Nature therefore as the Naturall inclination of the Will becomes subservient unto Charity so doth the Naturall Reason of the Understanding become subservient unto Faith Hence it is Reason arguguing from Scripture for the Scriptures that the holy Scriptures doe not only establish our Faith but also instruct our a 1 Pet. 3 15. Isa 1 18. Eze. 18.25 29. Reason even furnishing us with arguments rationally to prove their Truth to be sacred their Authoritie divine The manner and method of arguing is this Among all the Principles of Naturall Divinity there is none more firm more evident more universall then this That b 1 Ki. 18.21 Act. 17.23 Rom. 1 23 25. God is to be worshipped § 2. The true Knowledge of which God The knowledge of God and his worship by Revelation and right form of whose Worship cannot be had but by some a John 1.18 Deut. 29.29 Revelation whereby he doth manifest himselfe and declare his will as the b 2 Cor. 3.18 2 Cor. 4.6 Glasse of his Divinity and the c Mat. 7.21 Isa 1 10 12. Col 2.23 Mat. 5.9 Rule of his Worship This Revelation either with the Jews or with the Christians Now such a Revelation upon Reason's strictest enquiry is no where to be found but either in the Jewish or the Christian Church The former tells us they have committed to them the d Rom 3.2 chap 9.4 Oracles of God the latter the e Mar. 16.15 1 Cor. 1.17 Gospel of Christ and this Gospel as a f 2 Cor 3 9. Mat. 5.17 Rom. 10 4. 2 Cor. 3 14. Heb 9 10. chap. 10.1 cleerer light in the full complement of those Oracles The Church of the Jewes enquired into by Reason § 3.
And here whilst we view the Jewish Sanctuary Sacrifices and Prophecies by the light of Reason we see them plainly a Joh. 5.39 46 Lu. 10.23 24. 1 Cor. 15 3 4. look and lead unto Christ For their Sanctuary and Sacrifices being b Heb 9.1.10 Earthly and Carnal must needs in the pure worship of that God who is a c John 4.24 Heb. 12.9 Isa 1 10 12. c. Heb. 1.5 6 7. spirit and the Father of spirits be the d Hâ—b 8.4.5 ch 9 9 23 24. Types and shadows of things Heavenly and Spiritual so that as their Prophecies having their appointed time either they are fulfilled or they have expired so their Sanctuary and Sacrifices being Types and shadowes either they were vain or they have vanished and this in Christ the e Col. 2.17 John 1.17 Substance of those shadows and the f John 1.45 Luke 24.27 Mat 1.22 23. chap. 26.56 ch 27.35 Luke 22 37. Joh. 19.36 37. Subject of these Prophecies Reason leads from the Church of the Jews to the Church of the Christians § 4. For let the Jews search the several places and Ages of the World they cannot finde a fulfilling of a Gen. 49.10 Hag. 2.7.9 Gen. 3.15 Deut. 18 15. Isa 2.2 7.14 9.6 7. Dan. 2.44 45. Special Prophecies nor can they give us an Antitype and substance for their Sanctuary and Sacrifices but in the Person and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah So that for the true and more full Knowledge of God with the right and more pure form of his Worship we are directed by the Dictate of Reason to the Church of Christ With the Church of Christ is found the Word of God as the Revâ—lâ—tion of his Will b 1 Tim. 3.15 which as the Pillar of Truth doth hold forth to us the Holy Scriptures as the c Rom. 3.2 Luke 1.70 2. Cor. 2.17 chap. 4.2 1 Thes 2.13 word of God delivered by the d 2 Tim. 3.16 2 Pet. 1.21 1 Cor. 2.13 Inspiration of the Holy Spirit § 5. These Holy Scriptures are the writings of the a Eph. 2.20 2 Pet. 3.2 Prophets and Apostles in the books of the Old b 2 Cor. 3.14 Testament and the New The Word of God the Holy Scriptures in the Books of the Old Testament and the New The Original and Authentick edition of the former according to the writings of Moses and the Prophets is the Hebrew and of the latter according to the writings of the Apostles and Evangelists is the Greek What Editions are Authentick That the Mother language of the Jews this the most common language of the Gentiles who in a contradistinct notion to the Jews are therefore called c 1 Cor. 23.24 Rom. 2.9 10. Gal. 3.28 Greeks and as the first edition of the Holy Scriptures were Translations in the Vulgar tongue allowed so the after translations ought to be in the Vulgar tongue that they may be d John 5.39 Col. 3.16 Acts 8.28 1 Thes 5.27 Rev. 1 3. read of all § 6. The Apocrypha signifying secret or hid The Aprocrypha why so called either in respect of their Authors being not certainly known or their Authority not being publickly received seeing we finde them not in the Hebrew we acknowledge not as Canonical to prove doctrines of faith Why not Canonical though profitable for instruction in moral duties We receive those books onely to be of the Old Testament The Old Testament received from the Jews which were kept a Luke 24.44 Sacred by the Jews by an especial Providence and b Rom 32. chap 9.4 Divine appointment made faithful Registers and Bibliothists to the Christian Church § 7. And seeing the Church hath its a Eph. 2.20 foundation fixt upon the Scriptures The Authority of the Scriptures is not from the Church the Scriptures cannot have their Authority derived from the Church so that as not b Joh. 5.33 34. Christs Ministry so nor doth Christ's Word receive its Weight or Worth its Excellency or Authority from the Testimony of Man That the Lord Jesus Christ was c Rom. 4 25. deliver'd for our offences and raised again for our justification we beleeve what because the Church doth so teach us No but because the d Rom. 10.17 Scriptures do so teach the Church § 8. The Holy Scriptures being those a 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20. Credential letters The Authority of the Church is from Christ by the Scriptuâ—es which Christ the King of glory hath given to his Church must necessarily have their Authority from their Author which is Christ and what Authority the Church hath from Christ is convey'd and confirmed by the b 1 Tim. 3.15 Scriptures so that the Authority of the Scriptures is far above the Authority of the Church And though the Tradition of the Church doth declare the Authority of the Sciptures yet doth it not give Authority to them as the c John 1.7.29 34. Testimony of John Baptist doth declare Christ to be the Messiah yet doth not make him to be the Messiah by so declaring him The Tradition of the Church leadeth to the Scriptures § 9. Yea in our believing the Scriptures to be the word of God though true it is the Church leadeth us unto the Scriptures as the a John 4.39 woman did the Samaritans unto Christ by a Traditional report of their Divine excellency yet having read them diligently and faithfully b Joh. 7.17 18 observed the deep Mysteries The excellency of the writings affect the mind the sure Prophesies the glorious Miracles the purity of the Precepts the harmony of the Parts the efficacy of the Doctrines the sincerity of the Writers the plainnesse of the Style with the Majesty of the Word having observed these it is through the convincing power of the c John 14.17 spirit of Truth The Spirit convinceth of the Truth that we say to the Clurch as the d John 4.42 5 39. Samaritans did to the woman Now we believe no more because of thy saying of thy Tradition for we our selves have read and know that these Scriptures are indeed the word of God and in them we have eternal life A morall perswasion from the Church and the letter a divine belief from the Spirit § 10. That the Scriptures then are the Word of God we believe in a a 1 John 5.9 John 16.13 1 Cor. 2.10 12. 1 Joh. 2.20.27 moral perswasion from the outward Tradition of the Church and the incomparable excellency of the matter but in a Divine Faith from the b inward Testimony of the Spirit § 11. Indeed though the Scriptures are a light a Psal 119.105 2 Pet. 1.19 yea the b 2 Cor. 3.18 clear light of the Sun of Righteousnesse yet it is only to those who have their eyes opened The brightest day appears not in it's glorious
beauty to the blind Why the Scriptures are not discernable by their own ligh◠without the Spirit nor the plainest Scripture in its Divine Truth to the c 1 Cor. 2.14 unbelieving and Faith being the d Ephes 2.8 Gift of God none can believe but to whom it is e Luk. 8.10 given Yea were the Scriptures like the Sun discernable by their own light all should acknowledge them Divine who read them written or hear them preach'd but the contrary practice confirms the contrary opinion that seeing all do not receive them it is by a f 1 Cor. 2.15 peculiar Gift of the Spirit that any do believe them that they are the word of God § 12. What and from whence the Authority of the Scriptures And believing these books of Holy Scriptures to be as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word of God we acknowledge them to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of soveraign and sacred Authority for the proving deciding and determining all a Deut. 17.9 10 11. Isai 8.20 Acts 17.2.11 1 Cor. 15.3 4. Gal. 1.8 controversies in Doctrines of Faith containing in them b 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Acts 20 27. all Truths necessary to Salvation Their sufficiency Their perfection and as not being subject to c Mark 12.24 error in themselves nor to receive d Joh. 10 35. 2 Pet. 1.19 Deut. 12.32 Prov. 30 5 6. Rev. 22.18 Addition or Diminution or Change by the e Gal. 3.15 2.8 Authority of Men or revelation of Angels § 13. How the Rule of our faith We say the Holy Scriptures are the a 1 Thes 5.21 1 Joh. 4.1 6. 2 John 9. Rom. 16.17 Canon and Rule of our Faith and as a Rule hath its just measure inherent in it selfe not depending upon the hand of the Artificer so the Scriptures have their infallible truth inherent in themselves not depending upon the judgement of the Church And as when we speak of a Rule we mean not the materiall wood but the formall measure so when we speak of the Scriptures being the Rule of our Faith we mean not the materiall Book but the formall Truth even the will of God revealed And we expect not any more nor any other Revelation as a Rule of faith or life Such to the end of the world but this to b Heb. 1.1 2 Mat 28.20 1 Cor. 11.26 2 Thes 2.8 continue to the end of the world § 14. Prophesies and particular Revelations Particular Revelations not now to be expected they were to the Church as the light of the Moon and of the Stars to the world of much use and benefit in the night even in the darknesse of ignorance and dim light of Types and Figures whereas the glory of the Gospel like that of the Sun it gives us a Noon-light of divine Truth so that now to expect particular Revelations in matters of faith were to light a candle in the Sun or to look for a Star at Noon Doubtless this is the high way to a 2 Thes 2.10 11 12. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 Thes 2.1 Heresie and gives advantage to Satan b 2 Cor. 11.13 14. transformed into an Angel of light the more easily to deceive and the more dangerously to seduce What received as the Truth by the Church § 15. Whatsover is preach'd or taught express'd in the letter or agreeable to the Analogy of the Holy Scriptures we receive as a Mal. 2.6 John 17.17 Acts 18.28 2 Tim. 2.15 Truth But what is opposite to or dissenting from them we reject as b Acts 17.11 Mark 12.24 error And what things are indifferent in their own nature as being neither directly express'd in the word nor necessarily deduc'd from it nor any way opposite to the word or inconsistent with it those things we acknowledge left to the Prudence of Governours What left to the Prudence of Governors and to what end for the preservation of c 1 Cor. 11.16 chap. 14.26 33 40. Heb. 13.17 Philip. 2.14 Order and Unity in the Church which things indifferent in their nature by the command of lawful Authority do become necessary in their use In what the Scriptures are plain and in what hard to be understood § 16. And seeing the Holy Scriptures though in most texts they are a Deut. 30.11 14. Psal 19.7 8. 2 Tim. 3.15 1 Cor. 3.1 2. Psal 119.105 2 Cor. 4.3 4. clear yet in many they are b 1 Cor. 2.6 7. 2 Pet. 3.16 obscure Though in Truths absolutely necessary to salvation they are easie yet in mysteries excellently profitable for edification they are difficult to be understood Therefore for the true Interpretation of Scripture How to be Interpreted we admit the judgement of the Church as a trusty Guide and the opinion of the Learned as a rational Argument but we approve the Scripture it self as an c 2 Pet. 1.20 infallible Rule clearing those texts which are dark and doubtful What the Analogy of Faith by those places which are more plain and evident being careful to keep close to the d Rom. 12.6 Phil. 3.16 Analogy of Faith which doth consist in those Principles of Christianity which are clearly set forth in Scripture and generally received of the Church A Sum whereof we have in those short Confessions of Faith call'd the Apostles Creed Athanasius Creed and the Nicene Creed together with the Decalogue the Lords Prayer and the Doctrine of the Sacraments § 17. The duty of Christians in the use of the Scriptures And that every true Christian may be throughly furnished with Knowledge unto works of Holiness and Righteousness it is his duty diligently to a Joh. 5 39. 2 Pet. 1.19 Luke 16.29 search the Scriptures and to b Deu. 5 32 33 John 13.17 Jam. 1.22 25. conform his judgment and conversation according to their rule and direction Their fulness of heavenly Doctrine They being the Heavenly Store-house from whence the Church of Christ is furnish'd with all spiritual c Luke 4.4 Heb. 5 12 13 14 1 Pet. 2.2 Provision of sound Doctrine whether it be in matters of Faith or Manners d 2 Tim. 3.16 Profitable they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Doctrine and Instruction in what concerns God and Christ Creation and Redemption Sin and Grace Death and Life Misery and Blessedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Argument and Conviction in discovering and refuting Error in discerning and confirming Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Correction and Reformation How a perfect form of Institution in what concerns Minde and Manners the inward and the outward Man in thoughts in words and in works and of these Three doth consist the Apostles perfect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 form of institution in Righteousness CHAP. II. Concerning God in the Unity of Essence § 1. AS the Sun is in it self most visible Why the Nature of God is not to be comprehended by
and the salvation of the elect instrumental to this the utmost end the manifestation of God's c Ephes 1.12 glory which end is communicated of God unto his elect not d Psal 16.2 acquired by his elect unto himself for that as he is a God e Exod. 3.14 Independent so he is a God f Gen. 17.1 Alsufficient Thus there are several causes of Salvation decreed by God's will final and instrumental but no cause of God's will decreeing Salvation neither instrumental nor final both being within the compass of his decree and therefore not beyond the circumference of his will to be the cause of his volition God wills not sin and why § 7. God wills all things but sin which hath no efficient but deficient cause and therefore the cause thereof cannot be God True it is all evil is founded in that which is good and so sin cannot be but in some faculty or habit or action which thereby is denominated sinful No doubt then God a Act 4.27 28. wills the action which is sinful but not the b Psal 5.4 Habak 1.13 pravity of the action which is the sin He wills the action as a natural good and ordered by him to a greater good but the ataxy or anomy of the action that he doth not will but permit or at most he doth but will the permission For he cannot be said effectually to will what he doth actually forbid and punish The purpose of God's will doth not abolish but establish the liberty of man's will § 8. Besides the purpose of God's will doth not take away the a Levit. 1 3. Dan. 11 3. Phil. 2.13 Psal 40.8 liberty of man's will no more then the certainty of his fore-knowledg doth take away the contingency of events rather indeed that purpose doth confirm this Liberty and that certainty this contingency for that thereby he maketh good the liberty which he hath given and the contingency which he hath made accommodating the concurrence of his power and will according to the nature of the Agents which himself hath created and that constitution of the causes which himself hath established wherefore though the purpose of God's will doth exclude every act and event which is contrary to it yet can it not be said to destroy the liberty of man's will even to that contrary act which is altogether consistent with it What the Necessity of Being from the immutability of God's will yea establish'd by it And thus what necessity of Being is caus'd by the immutability of God's Will is only a conditional necessity upon this supposition that God wills it And because what God wills in his ordinary Providence is according to that order which he hath established in the secondary causes therefore the Necessity of Being which flows from the immutability of God's will doth not destroy the contingency of Events or the liberty of Agents § 9. How God's secret wil becomes revealed by his word and by his works The secret will of God's good pleasure is the first and a Psal 135.6 Eph 1.11 Rev. 4.11 chief cause of all things b Num. 23.19 Psal 102.27 unchangeable and c Rom. 9.19 irresistable which when God is pleased to reveale unto man he doth it by the signification either of his word or of his works His works declare his will in their events and his word that signifies his good pleasure by Prophesies by Precepts by Promises and by Threatnings How God's word is called his will God's word is called his will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 figuratively as the sign is put for the thing signified his word being the signification or d 1 Thes 2 13. Rom. 1.16.17 1 Cor. 2.10 revelation of his will in what he hath thereby determined and decreed § 10. Such is the sweet a Psal 119.160 John 5.32 2 Cor. 4.2 1 Tim 3 15. Rev. 19 9. harmony How they agree in a sweet harmony and firm consent of the sign with the thing signified the revelation of God's word with the determination of God's will that they admit not the least jar of discord without a manifest violation of the sincerity and truth of God himself wherefore to preserve that harmony and prevent this discord S◠to be interpreted as that the harmony be perserv'd it must be our care so to b Mat. 9.13 2 Pet 1.20 interpret the right meaning of his word that it agree with the true intent of his minde and purpose of his will least otherwise we make God seem to contradict himself or deceive his people § 11. If God should will any thing by his will of sign which he doth not will by his will of good pleasure he should plainly contradict himself and destroy the the truth of his word wherefore seeing God doth certainly a Tit. 1.2 Heb. 6.18 intend in his will what he reveals in his word we must observe rightly to interpret that his Revelation to a declaring what he truly intends How God's revealed will agrees with that of his good pleasure when he wills all men to be holy not what we b 2 Cor. 2.17 2 Pet. 3.16 falsly conceive As when God by the precept of his revealed will and will of signe doth require all men to be c Lev. 21.2 and 20 7. holy we must not conclude it the purpose of his secret will or will of good pleasure that all men be holy For that experience and other parts of d Psal 14 3. 2 Tim. 3.13 Scripture too sufficiently testifie that all are not holy which yet necessarily they should be or a contradiction must be in his revealed will if that were the intent of his good pleasure which is ever e Psal 135.6 Rom. 9.19 effective in what he wills Wherefore when God by the Precept of his revealed will requires all men to be holy it is the purpose of his good pleasure that men be thereby f Deut. 30.11 14.15 admonished of their duty and obliged to his Law Where also he commands Abraham to sacrifice his Son Isaac § 12. Again we read that God gave Abraham a command saying a Gen 22.2 Take thy Son thine onely Son Isaac whom thou lovest and offer him for a burnt-offering If we say God here purposed Isaac's sacrificing as the words seem to signifie we shall make a change in Gods secret will to avoid a contradiction in his will revealed whereas if the true meaning of Gods word be applyed to the right purpose of his will the harmony is sweet and it is thus when God gave Abraham the Command Take thy Son and offer him for a burnt-offering the purpose of his good pleasure revealed in that precept of his word was to put Abraham upon the service by obliging him to the duty which he intended for the testimony and b Heb. 11.17 trial of Abraham's faith not for the death or sacrifice of his Son which not
Acts 4.12 13.38 Christs all-sufficient satisfaction or the f Mat. 5.25 26 25.46 Sinners everlasting condemnation Wherfore seeing the poysonous guilt of the least sin is not expelled but by the Soveraign Antidote of Christs blood g Mark 1.15 Acts 20.21 Luke 24.47 Rom. 3.25 through repentance and faith it cannot be that any sin is veniall in its nature but in a respect to Gods mercy and Christs merits in the effect In what all sins are mortal yet not all equal § 27. In this all sins are mortall that by their guilt they meke liable to * Matth. 5.22 eternall death and though all are mortall yet are they not therfore a Ezek. 8.6.13.15 John 19.11 all equall some by their more b Mat. 5.22 11.22 24. Luke 12.47.48 hainous guilt making subject to a more grievous punishment in that death which is eternall How some sins mortall and some veniall That some sins then are said to be mortall and some veniall it is not in the nature but in the effect or rather the event of the sin in relation to the subject which is the sinner to c John 5.24 Rom. 8.1 Acts 13.39 whom through faith and repentance not onely the lesser but the greater sins become venial and d John 3.36 Gal. 5.10 without faith repentance not only the greater but also the lesser sins are mortall so that if we take the weight of sin From whence we are to take the just weight of sins guilt not from the deceitful scales of our own opinions but from the just ballance of the Sanctuary the truth of Gods word we find the least sin to have the greatest guilt so that e Mat 12.36 1 Cor. 4.5 every vain thought What the guilt of the least sin without Ghrist and idle word shal be brought to judgment and whatsoever sin Christ brings to the last judgement shall without Christ bring upon the sinner everlasting punishment § 28. Though all sin be in its nature mortall Though all sins be mortall yet most especially the sin against the Holy Ghost and so to be mortall is common to all sin yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is appropriate to the a 1 John 5.16 sin against the Holy Ghost for its most deadly naure call'd in Scripture the sin unto death which excluding repentance depriveth b Math. 12.32 of forgivenesse even so as never to be forgiven What the sin against the Holy Ghost is not Which sin against the Holy Ghost doth not consist in any c 2 Kings 21.6 c 24.4 2 Chron. 33.12 13. 1 John 5.16.17 18. particular transgression of Gods Law nor yet in that blasphemy and persecution of Christ and his Gospel which ariseth from ignorance no nor in that Apostasie from the truth d 1 Tim. 1.13 and deniall of Christ which ariseth from e Mat. 26.70 72 74 75. infirmity though all of them sins of a deep die and horrid guilt § 29. But the sin against the Holy Ghost What it is is such a denying and rejecting of Christ as ariseth from malice in an hatred of Him and his Truth contrary to knowledge and conscience opposing and persecuting the Gospel of Christ as an imposture of Satan the power and grace of the Spirit as a work and designment of the Divell thus it was in the a Matth 12.24 c. Luke 19.14 20.13 c. Mark 3.30 John 7.28 Pharisees As in the Pharisees Also to sin against the Holy Ghost is to b Heb. 6.4 5 6 10.26 fall away from the faith of Christ by an universall Apostacy in wilfully denying and maliciously opposing Christ and his Truth yea in a contempt of his Sacrifice and an hatred of his Gospel persecuting his Church with an irreconcilable enmity Thus it was in Julian As in Julian thus in many in the Apostles times and thus in many in these our dayes of whom we cannot Why not now to be discovered by us we may not pass sentence of judgement wanting that so eminent a gift c Acts 5.3.9 8.32 13.10 1 Cor. 12.10 among the primitive Saints namely the discerning of the Spirits Why calâ—d the sin against the Holy Ghost § 30. This sin is said to be against the Holy Ghost in respect of his a Isa 12.2 Ephes 1.17 more immediate Office of illumination not as being any wayes the more eminent person in the Trinity all being b Isai 6.3 Matth. 28.19 coequall in their Unity of Essence and of Glory Seeing then it is the more immediate c 1 Cor. 12.11 Office of the Holy Ghost to illuminate in the truth of Christ a d Acts 7.51 wilfull hatred of Christ and his truth accompanied with a malicious opposition of his illuminating power is properly called a sin against the Holy Ghost and that this sin shall not be forgiven is not because it e Rom. 5.20 exceeds Gods grace Why this sin shall not be forgiven or out-vies Christs merits f Heb. 7.25 but because it excludes g Heb. 6.5 6. the work of Repentance in despightfully opposing the Spirit and rejects the h Heb. 10.26 Sacrifice of Christ in wilfully denying his truth Sins against Conscience lead the way to this sin against the Holy Ghost § 31. Sins against Conscience they a Psal 19.13 lead the way to this sin against the Holy Ghost Wherefore that this may be prevented those must be avoided avoid we not onely sins against conscience b 1 Tim. 1 19. when enlightned with the truth but also though c Rom. 14.23 seduced with error For that an Erroneous Conscience doth d Tit. 1.15 entangle and fetter in sin How an erroneous conscience entangles in sin but binds not to what is sinful though it doth not oblige or bind to what is sinfull So that he alwayes sins who e Rom. 14.5 23. acts any thing against the dictate of his conscience because the f Rom. 1.14 15. 1 Sam. 24.5 6 dictate of the conscience is by interpretation the precept of God And thereby it is that though the act be materially good yet it cannot be formally so the good is not done well because accompanied with so great an evill a contempt of God in the doing Wherefore whatsoever is good in it selfe if done against conscience though errour judging it to be evill it thereby becomes sin and a sin against Conscience deep in its guilt An erroneous conscience may somewat excuse but cannot wholly acquit § 32. Again the erroneous Conscience may a Acts 26.9 10. Phil 3.6 1 Tim. 1.13 mitigate but cannot make void it may somewhat excuse but cannot wholly acquit from what is sinfull whether it be in omitting what is good supposing it to be evill or in committing what is evill and why misdeeming it to be good Indeed impossible it is that